The Justice Department filed a new motion this week in its case against Roman Storm, targeting the Tornado Cash developer's attempt to move the proceedings out of its current venue. The filing comes as Storm's motion for acquittal remains pending and a retrial is already scheduled for April 26, 2027.
The venue fight is the latest procedural move in a case that's been grinding through the courts for years. Storm, a co-founder of the crypto mixing service Tornado Cash, was previously convicted on one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The jury deadlocked on two other charges, setting up the retrial now on the calendar.
Why the venue challenge matters
Storm's legal team has argued the case shouldn't stay where it is. The DOJ's new motion pushes back on that effort. If the venue challenge succeeds, it could reset significant parts of the prosecution's work — and potentially push the retrial timeline even further out.
For now, the venue motion is live and the acquittal request is still sitting with the court. Neither has been resolved.
A retrial date already on the books
The April 2027 retrial date gives both sides a long runway. That's more than a year and a half of pretrial motions, evidentiary disputes, and likely more filings like the one the DOJ just dropped. Storm's defense will have time to renew its arguments, and prosecutors will have time to refine theirs.
The practical effect: nothing is getting resolved quickly. The case has already stretched across multiple years, and the calendar now extends deep into 2027.
FinCEN backs off mixer rule
Separately, FinCEN has withdrawn its proposed rule on crypto mixers. The rule, which would have imposed strict reporting requirements on mixing services, is now off the table. That's a meaningful shift for an industry that's been bracing for tighter federal oversight of privacy tools.
The timing is notable. Storm's case centers on Tornado Cash, a mixer. FinCEN's decision to drop its mixer rule doesn't directly affect the criminal proceedings, but it removes a regulatory layer that could have shaped how courts and regulators view these services.
FinCEN hasn't said why it pulled the rule, and there's no indication it plans to revive it. For now, mixers face one less federal compliance burden than they did before.
What's still unresolved
Storm's acquittal motion is pending. The DOJ's new motion against the venue challenge is pending. The retrial is set for April 26, 2027. And FinCEN's mixer rule is gone, at least for now.
The next concrete step is a court ruling on the venue dispute. If the judge sides with the DOJ, the case stays put and moves toward the 2027 retrial. If Storm's team wins, the prosecution could face a fresh set of logistical and legal hurdles. Either way, the case isn't wrapping up anytime soon.
