Roman Storm says debanking hurt Tornado Cash defence

Roman Storm has accused the US Department of Justice of using debanking pressure to weaken his legal defence in the Tornado Cash case.

Storm, a developer linked to the Ethereum mixing protocol Tornado Cash, said the issue became clear after banks received subpoenas connected to his prosecution.

He made the remarks after Jackie Reses, co-founder and chief executive of Lead Bank, dismissed claims of politically driven debanking during an appearance on the Sourcery podcast.

"There’s 5,000 banks in the United States. We have a lot of red states. Are you telling me that in lots of red states, including where my company is headquartered, Kansas City, Missouri—those banks were not willing to bank, for example, conservative companies?,"

Jackie Reses said.

Storm rejected Reses’ comments and said debanking was not an abstract political talking point, but something he had personally faced several times.

Storm said banks cut services after the DOJ subpoenaed his accounts, making it harder for him to fund lawyers and continue defending himself.

"Anyone who goes through a DOJ prosecution quickly learns this pattern: the moment the DOJ storms all your accounts with subpoenas, your bank shuts you down. It’s one of their tools to restrict your ability to defend yourself – making it harder to pay attorneys, manage your case, stay solvent,"

Roman Storm said.

Storm argued that the loss of banking access created serious financial pressure during one of the most difficult periods of his legal fight.

He said the experience showed why cryptocurrency became an important tool for raising money for his defence.

Storm also said GoFundMe returned donations without giving a clear explanation, forcing him to rely more heavily on crypto-based fundraising.

"Crypto allowed me to crowdfund my legal defense. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to fight this case at all. I don’t know how I would have kept fighting without crypto existing,"

Roman Storm noted.

The Tornado Cash developer has already faced conviction for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

However, Storm warned that his legal battle may not be finished, as he could still face another trial linked to money laundering and US sanctions allegations.

He said any further proceedings would bring more costs, including legal fees, case preparation, and possible appeals.

"We may face a second trial. We may need to go through appeals. There are a lot of unknowns ahead, and every one of them costs money,"

Roman Storm highlighted..

The case has become a major flashpoint for crypto supporters who argue that developers should not face broad criminal exposure for writing privacy-focused software.

Storm’s comments also fed into the wider debate over whether banks unfairly restrict services to people and businesses connected to crypto, politics, or other controversial sectors.

Supporters of Storm’s position argue that losing banking access during prosecution can affect a defendant’s ability to hire counsel and manage basic financial needs.

Critics of the debanking narrative, including Reses, have argued that the size and diversity of the US banking sector make broad claims of exclusion harder to accept.

Storm maintained that his own experience showed the practice exists and can have direct consequences for people involved in high-profile government cases.

At the time of reporting, Ethereum price was $2,023.96.