According to Cointelegraph, the U.S. Department of Justice has referenced a prior appeals court ruling known as the Bitcoin Fog decision in support of its position regarding the geographic scope of Roman Storm’s alleged cryptocurrency activities. The DOJ is using the ruling to argue that Tornado Cash transactions conducted from within New York were sufficient to establish venue for relevant aspects of Storm’s case in federal court.
The reference comes as prosecutors prepare legal submissions related to Storm’s defense efforts, including any bid to secure an acquittal. The Bitcoin Fog ruling was issued by a court addressing questions about determining jurisdiction in cryptocurrency-related cases based on transaction behavior and network interactions. According to available public information, the decision did not address Storm directly but addressed broader principles applicable to similar factual scenarios.
Storm faces federal charges tied to cryptocurrency transactions linked to the Tornado Cash mixer service. The DOJ’s invocation of the Bitcoin Fog ruling reflects its approach to grounding jurisdictional arguments in established appellate precedent rather than introducing new legal standards. No details were provided regarding timing of the submission or specific court filings beyond the reference in this context.
