- Roman Storm’s retrial is now scheduled for April 26, 2027, with motions pending.
- Court records show Chainalysis operated a Tornado Cash relayer that earned fees.
- A Chainalysis witness planned to invoke the Fifth after prosecutors contacted counsel.
Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm has renewed questions about Chainalysis’s role in his federal case after a judge moved the Roman Storm retrial to April 26, 2027. The Aug. 25 order leaves Storm’s acquittal motion pending while prosecutors prepare to retry two counts on which the jury previously deadlocked.
In a post citing public court records, Storm also highlighted testimony showing Chainalysis operated a Tornado Cash relayer in 2022 and earned fees from transactions routed through it.
Chainalysis Relayer Emerges in Roman Storm Retrial Record
Storm pointed to a July 2025 motion in which Chainalysis sought to quash a defense subpoena for testimony from two employees. The filing stated that Chainalysis had operated a relayer node for a period in 2022. Storm’s subpoena sought information covering relayers used from March through August that year.
A July 25 trial transcript provided further details. During a court hearing, prosecutors said the parties agreed that the Chainalysis relayer earned fees. The government also said there was no evidence Storm knew Chainalysis was operating the relayer.
The transcript shows prosecutors had spoken with Chainalysis counsel the previous night. When the judge asked whether prosecutors had raised possible investigation or prosecution, the government said it had discussed issues surrounding the relayer “at a high level” with Chainalysis.
Chainalysis Witness Planned to Take the Fifth
Another transcript, dated July 28, records the defense saying a Chainalysis witness planned to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Storm’s lawyers also said they learned about the government’s call with Chainalysis counsel only afterward.
The government then asked to address related questions under seal. According to Storm, the jury did not hear the disputed Chainalysis evidence.
Storm connected those records to earlier comments from Southern District of New York prosecutors. At a February 2024 New York City Bar Association event, unit chief Tara La Morte said prosecutors wanted the industry to take notice. She also described Tornado Cash as an example of efforts to bring the industry into compliance.
Storm additionally cited an April 2026 Bitcoin conference panel featuring Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. The session, titled “Code is Free Speech,” addressed developer liability and included a discussion of Tornado Cash. Blanche described Storm’s prosecution as a continuing “lingering case,” while Patel referenced Chainalysis among FBI partners.
Related: DOJ Rejects Roman Storm’s Plea as Tornado Cash Verdict Will Stand
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