Twister Money Token Soars 71% After Elimination From US Sanctions Record

TORN, the native token of privateness protocol Twister Money, has rallied over 70% following its elimination from the US sanctions record.

The Workplace of Overseas Property Management (OFAC) confirmed on March 21 that it had delisted a number of Ethereum pockets addresses tied to the protocol. This marked a big milestone for the embattled decentralized platform, which has confronted intense scrutiny since its sanctioning in 2022.

Following the announcement, TORN’s value surged to $12.9, representing a 71% improve inside 24 hours. The crypto neighborhood additionally welcomed the information, viewing it as a win for privacy-focused applied sciences and DeFi.

Authorized readability for Twister Money

Twister Money operates as a decentralized protocol designed to enhance privateness for Ethereum customers. It permits customers to combine their property with others in a shared pool earlier than withdrawal, making monitoring transactions tougher.

The protocol got here underneath hearth in 2022 when OFAC sanctioned it, citing its alleged use by unhealthy actors, together with North Korea’s Lazarus Group.

Nevertheless, in January 2025, a federal court in Texas ruled that Tornado Cash’s good contracts couldn’t be topic to sanctions. The choose famous that the software program was autonomous, couldn’t be owned, and functioned independently of any central authority.

This immutability means it cannot be shut down or selectively restricted — a key level that weakened OFAC’s case. The ruling underlined that whereas privateness protocols might be misused, the code doesn’t fall underneath conventional regulatory management.

OFAC acknowledged this in its assertion, noting that its transfer displays a broader evaluation of how monetary sanctions apply in an area the place management is distributed and code is immutable.

Focus stays on North Korea

Regardless of Twister Money’s elimination from the sanctions record, the US Treasury stays vigilant about cash laundering, significantly by North Korean cybercriminals just like the Lazarus Group.

The Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking unit, has stolen billions from crypto platforms and allegedly used these funds to help the Asian nation’s nuclear and ballistic missile applications.

The Treasury reiterated its dedication to disrupting these malicious cyber actions and imposing sanctions in opposition to North Korea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated:

“Securing the digital asset business from abuse by North Korea and different illicit actors is crucial to establishing U.S. management and guaranteeing that the American individuals can profit from monetary innovation and inclusion.”