The D.C. Circuit’s Bitcoin Fog ruling did not decide Roman Storm’s acquittal motion. It affirmed Roman Sterlingov’s convictions and held that venue was proper in Washington, D.C., on the evidence in Sterlingov’s case. A report published October 6 says prosecutors cited that ruling in an October 5 filing opposing Storm’s challenge to venue in New York. That gives DOJ an argument to make; it is not a ruling against Storm.
What did the Bitcoin Fog ruling decide?
On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed Roman Sterlingov’s convictions on four counts and his 150-month sentence in United States v. Sterlingov, No. 24-3161. Among other issues, the court rejected Sterlingov’s venue challenge, holding that venue was proper in D.C. for the counts in his case.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The opinion’s conclusion was specific: “Under these principles, we hold that venue is proper in D.C. for all four Counts.” “All four Counts” refers to Sterlingov’s case, not Storm’s.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy the court found venue proper in D.C.
The court relied in substantial part on undercover activity by Special Agent Matthew Price in the district. Its opinion recounts a 2019 Bitcoin Fog deposit and withdrawal, as well as a later transaction in which Price told the service his bitcoin came from ecstasy sales and then withdrew funds in D.C. For the substantive money-laundering count, the court reasoned that the alleged unlawful source and withdrawal in the district supported venue under the applicable statute. It also concluded that transfers furthered the conspiracy in D.C. and that there was sufficient evidence Bitcoin Fog served customers there for the licensing counts.
#1 Best Overall
- BITCOIN EXCLUSIVE, PHONE VERIFICATION: Bitkey is designed from the ground up exclusively for bitcoin — a dedicated hardware wallet for secure bitcoin storage. Approve transactions with a tap using your phone and NFC. No device screen is required.
- SELF-CUSTODY, NO EXCHANGE OR CUSTODIAN REQUIRED: You hold two of the three keys in the Bitkey system – one on your phone and one on your Bitkey device. The third is stored on Bitkey’s server and cannot move your bitcoin on its own.
- NO SEED PHRASE: Set up and use Bitkey without creating or storing a seed phrase.
- 2-of-3 MULTISIG: Three keys are stored separately across your phone, Bitkey device, and Bitkey’s server. Any two keys are required to move your bitcoin.
- BUILT-IN RECOVERY: Encrypted backup and recovery tools can help you regain access if you lose your phone or Bitkey device. You can also designate a Recovery Contact.
As background to the evidence, the court describes mixers as pooling bitcoin deposits and withdrawals, which can make it difficult to trace a particular deposit to a later withdrawal. It also discusses investigative methods including clustering bitcoin addresses and associating clusters with known users or entities. Those are the court’s general explanation and the evidentiary setting in Sterlingov; they are not a guarantee that every transaction or service can be traced in the same way.
What is reported about DOJ’s filing in Storm’s case?
PrimeXBT reported on October 6, 2026, that federal prosecutors filed a letter the previous day asking U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla to reject Storm’s challenge to New York venue for money-laundering and money-transmission conspiracy counts. The report says DOJ invoked the recent D.C. Circuit decision. The underlying October 5 letter is not available in the cited reporting, so its detailed reasoning and exact language cannot be confirmed from that account.
Rank #2
- Unparalleled Security: Protect your assets NDA-free EAL 6+ Secure Element, offering robust defense and complete transparency
- Simple & Secure Interface: Manage your digital assets easily with a clear OLED screen for secure on-device confirmations
- Supports 1000s of Coins & Tokens: Securely handle thousands of assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more, all in one wallet
- Effortless Asset Management: Monitor and transact seamlessly with Trezor Suite, our intuitive desktop and mobile app
- Enhanced Backup Solution: Rest assured with Multi-share Backup, eliminating single points of failure for secure cold wallet recovery
The procedural roles matter: Sterlingov is an appellate court’s decision about a different defendant, service, record, and district. Storm’s filing is a prosecutor’s reported argument in a separate Southern District of New York case. The sources cited here do not establish that the Sterlingov opinion binds Judge Failla or determine how she must rule on Storm’s venue challenge.
| Question | Sterlingov / Bitcoin Fog | Storm / Tornado Cash |
|---|---|---|
| What is being considered? | The D.C. Circuit reviewed Sterlingov’s convictions and venue on his trial record. | DOJ is reported to have cited that appeal while opposing Storm’s venue challenge in New York. |
| What is the status? | The appeals court affirmed Sterlingov’s convictions and sentence on September 25, 2026. | The October 5 filing is reported as DOJ’s position; no ruling on Storm’s venue challenge is established by the cited sources. |
| Does the ruling decide Storm’s acquittal motion? | No. Sterlingov’s appeal concerned Sterlingov’s case. | No. A venue dispute and a motion for acquittal are distinct issues. |
Does this change Storm’s acquittal bid or retrial?
Not by itself. The October 6 report describes DOJ’s argument over venue; it does not report that Judge Failla ruled on the acquittal motion, and the Sterlingov opinion did not decide that motion. A venue ruling could affect where a charge is tried, but the available sources do not show that this filing resolved Storm’s request for acquittal.
Rank #3
- Unparalleled Security: Protect your assets with EAL 6+ Secure Element, offering robust defense and complete transparency
- Simple & Secure Interface: Manage your digital assets easily with a clear OLED screen for secure on-device confirmations
- Supports 1000s of Coins & Tokens: Securely handle thousands of assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more, all in one wallet
- Effortless Asset Management: Monitor and transact seamlessly with Trezor Suite, our intuitive desktop and mobile app
- Enhanced Backup Solution: Multi-share Backup eliminates single points of failure for secure cold wallet recovery
The latest cited procedural account is The Block’s August 26, 2026 report. It says a jury convicted Storm on one money-transmission count in August 2025 and did not reach a verdict on the money-laundering and sanctions charges. It also says the acquittal motion remained pending then and that Failla had scheduled a retrial on the two unresolved charges for April 26, 2027. Those are the status reported on August 26, not confirmation of the docket as of October 7, 2026; later developments are not established by the cited sources.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What are the cases about?
Storm is a co-founder of Tornado Cash. In its August 2023 charging announcement, the Justice Department accused Storm and Roman Semenov of conspiracies involving money laundering, sanctions violations, and unlicensed money transmission. The department alleged that Tornado Cash facilitated more than $1 billion in money-laundering transactions and that hundreds of millions of dollars were laundered for the Lazarus Group. Those figures are allegations in the charging announcement, not findings established by that release. DOJ also states that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Rank #4
- Dual-chip architecture for maximum protection: The next-gen, fully auditable TROPIC01 chip works alongside a certified EAL6+ Secure Element—completely NDA-free—to deliver radically transparent, industry-leading defense against physical attacks.
- Quantum-ready security: Get protection against future threats with the first-ever hardware wallet designed with quantum-ready architecture.
- See every detail with confidence: Our largest high-resolution color touchscreen makes it easy to navigate your assets, review transactions and manage your coins with clarity.
- Wireless freedom with encrypted Bluetooth control: Manage, buy, swap and stake securely using Trezor Suite on desktop or mobile. Qi2-compatible wireless charging keeps your Trezor powered up. No cables required—security meets convenience.
- Works seamlessly with Android, iOS and desktop: Connect wirelessly or via USB-C to your phone or computer. Manage your crypto anywhere with our companion Trezor Suite app.
In a separate case, DOJ’s March 2024 release, updated in February 2025, said more than 1.2 million bitcoin moved through Bitcoin Fog, valued at approximately $400 million at the time of the transactions. That is DOJ’s characterization of the service’s total movement and value; it does not mean that the entire amount was criminal proceeds.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Quick Recap
Best Value
- Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
- Enjoy Bluetooth connectivity, iOS access, and hours of battery use with this mobile-first, secure backup signer. Freedom you can depend on.
- Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
- Protect your signer: keep it in mint condition at all times with a bespoke Pod or Case to avoid scratches and everyday wear and tear.
What to watch next
- Whether Judge Failla issues an order on Storm’s venue challenge or acquittal motion.
- Whether the reported April 26, 2027 retrial date remains in place or changes in later docket activity.
- The reasoning in the October 5 letter, if it becomes available; the October 6 report alone does not establish its detailed argument.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
