- The US Treasury removed Tornado Cash addresses from its OFAC sanctions list on Friday.
- The decision could help Tornado Cash founders in their legal battle with the DOJ.
- TORN rallied 73% following the announcement.
TORN catapulted past 70% on Friday following news of the United States (US) Treasury removing crypto mixer Tornado Cash from its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanction list.
Tornado Cash addresses removed from US sanctions list
The US Treasury Department's OFAC removed crypto mixer Tornado Cash from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
According to an update on the OFAC official website, Tornado Cash addresses have been deleted from the SDN list, removing any ban on the protocol in the US.
"We have exercised our discretion to remove the economic sanctions against Tornado Cash as reflected in Treasury's Monday filing in Van Loon v. Department of the Treasury," the US Treasury said in a press release on Friday.
However, the Treasury remains concerned about the money laundering schemes related to the North Korean hackers Lazarus Group.
Tornado Cash was initially sanctioned by OFAC in 2022, banning US citizens from engaging in services provided by the platform. The US Treasury alleged that the platform has helped hackers facilitate the laundering of over $7 billion in digital assets since its inception in 2019. This included funds stolen by North Korea's Lazarus Group and other hackers.
Tornado Cash co-founders Roman Storm and Roman Semenov were indicted by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2023 for facilitating over $1 billion in crypto transactions connected to the Lazarus Group.
In May 2024, a Dutch court found Alexey Pertsev — another Tornado Cash co-founder — guilty of laundering approximately $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency. Pertsev was sentenced to sixty four months in prison.
The US Treasury Department's decision to delist Tornado Cash from its blacklist could significantly impact the legal cases of the mixing platform's founders against the DOJ.
The agency's move is also seen as a big win for privacy tokens and the DeFi sector, as it reflects a better environment for crypto privacy in the US.
TORN quickly skyrocketed following the announcement, jumping over 70% to reclaim the $15 price. It also stretched its weekly gains over 100%, leading the privacy token sector.
It's important to note that the surge in TORN also stems from its small market capitalization of $57 million. Hence, small buy orders could quickly move its price.
Meanwhile, Tornado Cash's removal from the OFAC sanction list could trigger a rally in the privacy tokens sector in the coming days.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH ETFs post first weekly inflows since February
Ethereum ETFs recorded net inflows of $104.1 million on Friday — their highest daily inflow since February 4, per SoSoValue data. As a result, the products saw a weekly net inflow of $157.1 million, which also marks their highest net buying activity since February.
Defi Development Corporation files to offer $1 billion in securities to boost its Solana holdings
Defi Development Corporation filed a registration statement with the Securities & Exchange Commission on Friday, signaling its intent to offer and sell a wide range of securities.
Bitwise hints at NEAR ETF following Delaware registration
The filing marks a crucial step before a firm submits an application for an ETF with the SEC. While Bitwise has not yet applied for a NEAR ETF with the SEC, similar actions preceded its previous XRP and Aptos ETF filings.
Bitcoin price could reach $285K by 2030 as Citigroup forecasts $1.6 trillion stablecoin inflows
Bitcoin price outlook strengthens as Citigroup projects $1.6 trillion stablecoin growth, calling them critical bridges between banks and blockchain.
Bitcoin Weekly Forecast: BTC consolidates after posting over 10% weekly surge
Bitcoin (BTC) price is consolidating around $94,000 at the time of writing on Friday, holding onto the recent 10% increase seen earlier this week.
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.