Advocacy Organizations Call on Trump to Affirm 'Code is Speech' Principle in Storm Retrial
- Over 65 crypto groups urge Trump to dismiss charges against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, arguing "code is not a crime." - Advocates demand regulatory clarity on DeFi, tax rules for staking, and protections for decentralized projects via executive action. - Storm's retrial highlights DOJ's inconsistent stance on code-as-speech, with prosecutors clashing over constitutional protections. - Outcome could set a precedent for U.S. crypto innovation, balancing enforcement with First Amendment rights. - T
Groups supporting the cryptocurrency sector are ramping up efforts to urge President Donald Trump to step in regarding the new trial of Roman Storm, a developer behind Tornado Cash. This move is part of a broader push for clearer regulations and legal safeguards for the crypto industry. More than 65 organizations—including the Solana Policy Institute, Blockchain Association, and DeFi Education Fund—sent a letter to the White House on November 20, requesting that Trump instruct the Department of Justice to drop all charges against Storm and
Storm, who was found guilty on one charge in August 2025 and faces two more retrials, has consistently argued that "writing code is not a crime." His defense maintains that creating Tornado Cash is a form of free speech protected by the First Amendment
The letter to Trump underscores his executive power to influence policy and references his previous pardons of crypto figures, such as Binance founder Changpeng Zhao in October 2025
The demand for clearer regulations comes as debates about DeFi oversight continue. During a recent CFTC nomination session, chair nominee Michael Selig stressed the importance of establishing clear rules for onchain platforms, saying it was "crucial to have regulatory oversight" in digital commodity markets
The coalition’s requests are in line with recommendations from the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, which outlined ways the administration could support legislative progress
With the retrial approaching, its outcome could set a benchmark for how the U.S. approaches crypto innovation. Advocates believe that dropping the case against Storm would affirm the idea that "code is speech" and
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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