Can privacy survive in US crypto policy after Roman Storm’s conviction?

Legal experts say Roman Storm’s Tornado Cash conviction underscores the ongoing clash between privacy and security, echoing past encryption fights.

Roman Storms conviction over Tornado Cash has sparked a debate about whether US authorities are narrowing crypto privacy rights despite the White Houses recent report emphasizing the importance of self-custody and individual freedoms.

The case has drawn comparisons to earlier battles over Silk Road, raising questions about criminal intent, control of immutable smart contracts and whether privacy itself can ever outweigh security concerns. Meanwhile, the White House is pushing for a clear taxonomy of digital assets commodity or security highlighting how unresolved definitions and liability standards continue to shape US crypto policy discussions.

To explore the legal implications of Storms conviction and the broader policy context, Magazine spoke with Joshua Chu of the Hong Kong Web3 Association, Yuriy Brisov of UK law firm Digital & Analogue Partners and Charlyn Ho of US law firm Rikka. 

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