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In a bold display of industry solidarity, over 65 blockchain advocacy organizations have penned a fiery letter to President Donald Trump, demanding he quash the DOJ’s retrial of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm—a move they brand as a “lawless prosecution” threatening open-source innovation and U.S. digital edge. Led by the Solana Policy Institute, Blockchain Association, and DeFi Education Fund, the coalition—spanning startups, investors, and policy wonks—argues Storm’s code is protected speech, not crime, echoing Trump’s pro-crypto pivot.
Storm, 34, faces a February retrial on money laundering and sanctions charges after an August mistrial on two counts; a jury convicted him only on unlicensed money transmission for Tornado Cash, the privacy mixer accused of laundering $1B+ for hackers like Lazarus Group. Arrested in 2023, his $5.3M defense fund (via FreeRomanStorm campaign) underscores community fury: “Jailing coders for others’ crimes kills DeFi,” the letter blasts, warning of developer exodus and stifled permissionless tech.
Broader Crypto Plea: Tax Clarity and Safe Harbors
The missive doubles as a regulatory wishlist: Direct Treasury/IRS to tax staking/mining as “self-created property” (sale-only hits), grant DeFi devs safe harbors, and fast-track stalled guidance—absent Congress. Signatories like Coinbase’s Fred Ehrsam and Paradigm’s Matt Huang decry Biden-era “war on crypto,” citing April’s DeFi Fund letter to advisor David Sacks.
Industry Echoes and Stakes
X erupted with #FreeRomanStorm: “Code is speech—Trump, make America the crypto capital again!” tweeted @DeFiEducation. Variant’s Jake Chervinsky called it an “outdated remnant,” fearing deterrence for Ethereum devs. A win could pardon-like precedent; dismissal might turbo U.S. innovation amid EU’s MiCA.
Legal eagles note petitions lack teeth but amplify pressure—especially post-Trump’s crypto czar nod to Sacks. As Storm’s motions loom (post-trial by September), this 65-strong roar tests if crypto’s voice sways policy, or if DOJ doubles down on sanctions enforcement.
