Roman Storm’s case is ‘not an isolated dispute,’ Solana Policy Institute says as it pushes for software developer protections

Following the guilty verdict against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm on a money transmitting charge, the Solana Policy Institute (SPI) issued an open letter arguing the case is "not an isolated dispute" but a test of the U.S. commitment to open innovation. SPI President Kristin Smith and CEO Miller Whitehouse-Levine warned that fear and misinterpretation could drive builders away from the system. Storm was found guilty on one charge, while the jury was deadlocked on money laundering and sanctions charges related to the privacy-focused crypto mixing service. Crypto advocates, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, have rallied behind Storm, donating millions for his appeal, arguing prosecutors focused on software development rather than direct financial harm. Whitehouse-Levine expressed hope as Storm awaits sentencing, noting that the Department of Justice previously stated that "writing code" without ill intent is not a crime. Furthermore, SPI is advocating for legislative safeguards, noting that the Senate Banking Committee's draft bill, the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), includes provisions that would clarify non-custodial software developers are not considered money transmitters, which Whitehouse-Levine called a "huge win."

(Source：The Block)