Journalist
Hassan Shittu
Journalist
Hassan Shittu
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More than 65 organizations across the U.S. crypto sector have urged President Donald Trump to intervene in the prosecution of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, arguing that the case represents a broader threat to software development and the country’s standing in digital finance.
The joint letter, sent on November 20 and signed by leading industry associations, DeFi builders, investors, and research groups, calls on federal agencies to deliver immediate regulatory and tax clarity while ending what the group describes as “regulation by prosecution.”
Developers Say Open-Source Code Is Not a Crime as They Push DOJ to End Storm Case
The appeal marks one of the largest coordinated policy pushes from the crypto industry since Trump returned to the White House.
The letter credits the administration for a series of actions over the past year, including the nullification of the IRS broker rule, passage of the GENIUS Act, and the reversal of earlier restrictions on the use of digital assets in retirement plans.
It argues that those steps have opened the door for new economic activity, but says several unresolved issues continue to push developers and businesses overseas.
A central request in the letter is that the Department of Justice dismiss the remaining charges against Roman Storm.
Storm was convicted in August 2025 on one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years.
The jury did not reach a verdict on two more serious allegations involving money laundering and sanctions violations, resulting in a partial mistrial.
Prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will retry him on those counts. Storm remains free on bail while post-trial motions and a possible appeal move forward.
The signatories argue that Storm’s work on Tornado Cash represents the writing of open-source software rather than the operation of a money service.
They point to recent Department of Justice guidance issued earlier this year, which stated that prosecutors should not bring unlicensed money transmitting charges against developers of decentralized software.
While that policy does not apply retroactively, Storm’s lawyers are expected to reference it as part of their ongoing legal challenge.
Advocacy Groups Urge Trump to Prioritize Developer Protections and Modernize Crypto Policy
Pressure from crypto advocacy groups has intensified in recent months. In April, the DeFi Education Fund sent a letter to White House crypto adviser David Sacks calling the Roman Storm case a “lawless prosecution” and warning it could deter developers from building permissionless tools.
That message gained support from industry figures including Fred Ehrsam, Matt Huang, and Tim Beiko, who argued that earlier FinCEN guidance stated noncustodial software developers should not be classified as money transmitters, placing the current case at odds with established policy.
Storm’s legal process is still active. An August court filing set deadlines for post-trial motions through November, while prosecutors said they will later decide whether to retry him on unresolved counts.
According to the Free Roman Storm campaign, supporters have raised $5.3 million of a $7 million goal to fund his defense.
The joint industry letter to President Trump extends beyond Storm’s situation.
It urges the Treasury and IRS to issue long-delayed tax guidance on staking rewards, mining rewards, cross-chain transfers, airdrops, forks, and rebases, areas the groups say have suffered from uncertainty and pushed activity offshore.
The signatories also request confirmation that using crypto as collateral for loans is not taxable and that digital asset donations should receive the same treatment as stock donations.
They further call on the SEC and CFTC to provide interim rules that protect open-source, permissionless development while broader regulatory frameworks remain unfinished.
Updated FinCEN guidance reaffirming that noncustodial blockchain software falls outside the Bank Secrecy Act is also a key demand.
The letter arrives during a period of increased executive focus on digital assets. Trump has already issued pardons to several prominent figures in the sector this year, including Ross Ulbricht, Changpeng Zhao, and Arthur Hayes.
The administration has also framed digital asset growth as a priority for U.S. economic competitiveness and has pushed agencies to adopt a coordinated framework for crypto oversight.
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