Three major crypto-related legal battles are heading toward critical junctures in late 2026. The insider trading case against traders on the Polymarket prediction platform, the retrial of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, and former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky's bid to overturn his sentence all have events penciled in for the second half of next year.
Polymarket insider trading case
Prosecutors are moving ahead with charges tied to trading on Polymarket, the decentralized prediction market. Court filings show the case is expected to proceed to trial or key hearings in late 2026. The government alleges individuals used non-public information to place bets on the platform ahead of major announcements. No trial date has been set yet, but the timeline points to a courtroom showdown well over a year from now.
Roman Storm's retrial
Roman Storm, the co-founder of Tornado Cash, is headed for a retrial later in 2026. Storm was initially convicted on money laundering and sanctions violations charges related to the crypto mixing service. An appeals court overturned parts of the verdict, leading to the new trial. The exact date remains unconfirmed, but court schedules indicate proceedings will resume in the latter part of the year. The case has drawn heavy attention from privacy advocates and regulators alike.
Alex Mashinsky's sentence fight
Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of bankrupt crypto lender Celsius, is waiting to hear back on a motion to vacate his sentence. Mashinsky was convicted on fraud and market manipulation charges in 2025 and received a multi-year prison term. His legal team filed a motion arguing procedural errors and insufficient evidence. The court has not yet ruled on the request. A decision is expected sometime in the coming months, but the timeline remains uncertain.
What happens next for each defendant will depend on court rulings and scheduling decisions that are still up in the air. For Mashinsky, the answer could come sooner. For Storm and the Polymarket traders, the key dates are more than a year away.
