Tornado Cash developer has appealed their money laundering conviction, aiming to overturn the verdict and regain control of their assets.

Alexey Pertsev, the developer behind Tornado Cash, has formally appealed the money laundering conviction he received from the s-Hertogenbosch court of appeal. The appeal process is expected to take several months, with the outcome still uncertain. Following the verdict, Pertsev was immediately taken into custody to serve his 64-month prison sentence.The court concluded that Tornado Cash posed no obstacle for individuals with illicit assets, as evidenced by their assessment. This assessment formed the basis for the court's finding of guilt regarding Pertsev's alleged money laundering activities.Pertsev was detained in the Netherlands in August 2022 after Tornado Cash was blacklisted by the U.S. government. The U.S. Treasury accused the platform of being instrumental in hacks attributed to the North Korean hacking group Lazarus.Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, also involved in Tornado Cash's development, face similar charges of money laundering and sanctions violations in the United States. Storm's trial is scheduled for September, while Semenov remains at large.Storm attempted to dismiss all charges against him in March, claiming he did not engage in money laundering or violate applicable legislation. However, the U.S. Department of Justice rejected this motion, citing the platform's clearly established functionality as a mixer.Several legislative proposals have emerged in response to the prevalence of cryptocurrency mixers like Tornado Cash. The US Blockchain Integrity Act would penalize financial institutions and exchanges that handle funds processed through mixers, imposing civil penalties of up to $100,000 for violations.Recent actions by the U.S. government indicate a continued crackdown on crypto-mixing services. The founder of Bitcoin Fog, another prominent mixer, was recently convicted of money laundering. Additionally, the Treasury Department added Tornado Cash to their Specially Designated Nationals list, effectively prohibiting American engagement with the platform.