US Court Upholds Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Dismissing First Amendment Claims

US Court Upholds Sanctions on Tornado Cash, Citing First Amendment Irrelevance

A US court has upheld the sanctions on crypto mixer Tornado Cash, stating that First Amendment rights do not apply to the case. The Treasury Department blacklisted Tornado Cash in 2022 for its alleged involvement in aiding groups like North Korean hackers. The developer of Tornado Cash, Alexey Pertsev, was arrested by Dutch authorities in Amsterdam and held without trial until April 2023. The court ruling denied a challenge to the sanctions brought by six Tornado Cash users.

Key Points:

Tornado Cash was blacklisted by the Treasury Department in 2022 for its alleged involvement in aiding North Korean hackers.
Alexey Pertsev, the developer of Tornado Cash, was arrested and held without trial until April 2023.
A US court has upheld the sanctions on Tornado Cash, dismissing the constitutional violations argument brought by six users.
Judge Robert Pitman stated that the First Amendment does not protect the right to use any particular bank or service, citing lack of case references.

Hot Take:

The US court’s decision to uphold the sanctions on Tornado Cash and dismiss the First Amendment claims showcases the regulatory challenges faced by crypto mixers. It highlights the need for clearer regulations and guidelines to address the complex legal and constitutional issues surrounding cryptocurrency. This ruling sends a message that the government is willing to take strong measures against platforms that are perceived as national security threats, even if it means limiting certain constitutional rights.