Catenaa, Wednesday, August 27, 2025-The U.S. Justice Department announced it will not pursue software developers who create decentralized cryptocurrency platforms without criminal intent.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti told a Wyoming digital assets summit that writing code alone is not a crime, marking a shift from prior enforcement that targeted unlicensed money transmission.
The statement follows the recent conviction of Roman Storm, Tornado Cash co-founder, for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, while the jury deadlocked on charges of money laundering and sanctions evasion.
Galeotti emphasized that prosecution will now focus on clear evidence of fraud, Ponzi schemes, or laundering networks.
“Tools can be misused, but those misusing them should be prosecuted,” Galeotti said, noting that statutes on unlicensed money transmission apply only if developers knowingly violate the law.
The DOJ intends to prioritize criminal intent over technical classification in cases involving decentralized protocols.
The policy shift contrasts with past enforcement under the Biden administration, which targeted Tornado Cash and other crypto firms.
Under the Trump administration, the DOJ disbanded its crypto enforcement team and several lawsuits against executives were dropped.
Developers and crypto advocates welcomed the clarification, saying it reduces uncertainty and protects innovation, while regulators continue monitoring privacy-focused tools for potential criminal exploitation.
