The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, for alleged money laundering activities. This action signals a shift in regulatory focus towards individuals within the cryptocurrency industry and is expected to impact privacy protocols on Ethereum. The DOJ emphasizes targeting individuals rather than platforms, aiming to hold those responsible for criminal use of crypto assets accountable. While the case focuses on Storm, it raises concerns about broader implications for users and investors involved with Tornado Cash and similar privacy-focused cryptocurrencies. This legal development could lead to decreased activity and reduced value for Ethereum (ETH) and other related protocols. The DOJ’s prosecution reflects its commitment to individual accountability within decentralized finance while potentially hindering technological innovation and privacy efforts.