An appeals court has ruled that the U.S. Treasury's move to sanction Tornado Cash's smart contracts exceeded its authority. The court found that immutable smart contracts do not qualify as "property" under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
This decision overturns a previous ruling made by a Texas federal court, signifying a notable legal precedent regarding the classification of smart contracts in financial regulations.
The ruling applies specifically to smart contracts without administrative keys, distinguishing them from the entire Tornado Cash platform. As a result of the court's decision, the price of TORN, Tornado Cash's token, surged nearly 900%.