A Tornado Cash T-shirt has sparked controversy in the courtroom during the trial of co-founder Roman Storm, drawing attention from both prosecutors and defense lawyers. The shirt, first worn at a 2019 Ethereum conference in Boston, depicted Tornado Cash as a service that “washes” Ether (ETH) using its mixing platform.
During opening statements at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Storm’s legal team and prosecutors referenced the T-shirt, which featured a washing machine illustration symbolizing “clean” ETH after using Tornado Cash. Footage from a 2019 ETHBoston attendee reportedly shows Storm wearing the controversial T-shirt.
Assistant US Attorney Kevin Mosley stated in court that Storm profited from what he described as a “giant washing machine for dirty money.” Mosley emphasized that despite knowing Tornado Cash was being used for illicit purposes, Storm chose to continue operations.
In contrast, Storm’s defense characterized the T-shirt as a “meme, a joke in poor taste,” arguing that it was not intended to imply wrongdoing but rather to mock the idea. Defense attorneys brought up the T-shirt again when opposing motions aimed at excluding evidence about hacking incidents linked to the Tornado Cash service.
The courtroom debate remains unresolved as jurors and Judge Katherine Failla will determine if the shirt’s message is a mere joke or an admission that Storm and Tornado Cash developers were aware of facilitating crypto laundering. Roman Storm faces charges including money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions.
Trial Progress and Defense Strategy
Storm’s criminal trial began with jury selection on July 14 and is expected to run approximately three weeks. Prosecutors concluded their case after presenting testimonies from the FBI, the IRS, and other witnesses involved in hacking investigations.
Supporters, such as a representative from the Golem Foundation that contributed 50 ETH to Storm’s defense fund, criticized the prosecution’s approach, comparing it to blaming banking app developers for scams occurring via their platforms.
On July 29, Storm’s defense team announced that the co-founder will not testify in his own defense. Despite earlier uncertainty, the lawyers rested the defense after several days of witness examination and are poised to offer closing arguments soon.
Related Read: What you need to know about Roman Storm’s Tornado Cash trial
