President Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO of privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai, who was sentenced to five years in federal prison last month for money laundering charges.
The statement reignited debate over the privacy technology of cryptocurrencies. It also raised questions about whether other convicted developers, including Tornado Cash’s Roman Storm, might receive similar presidential clemency.
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Calls for More Pardons Meet Market Frustration
During a press briefing on Dec. 15, a reporter asked Trump about Rodriguez’s case, noting it began under the Biden administration but continued under his Department of Justice. Trump responded, “I’ve heard about it. I’ll look at it.” The President added that he would review the matter after the reporter mentioned widespread support for clemency within the crypto community.
Rodriguez, 37, and co-founder William Lonergan Hill, 67, were convicted of operating a cryptocurrency mixing service. The prosecutors say the two facilitated the laundering of over $237 million in criminal proceeds. Rodriguez received five years, while Hill received four years, with both ordered to pay $250,000 in fines.
The announcement drew varied responses. Some supporters expressed hope that the decision would provide momentum for crypto-friendly policies. One X user even called for extending clemency to Do Kwon, the embattled founder of the collapsed Terra/Luna ecosystem.
However, critics pointed to broader market performance under Trump’s presidency. Since he took office, there have been significant declines across major cryptocurrencies, with some tokens down more than 70%.
Prosecution’s Case Against “Simple Developer” Narrative
The Department of Justice presented evidence that challenges the portrayal of Rodriguez and Hill as mere privacy tool developers. According to the Nov. 19 sentencing announcement, prosecutors demonstrated that the founders actively promoted their services to criminal users.
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Hill allegedly marketed Samourai on Dread, a darknet forum, directly responding to a user seeking “secure methods to clean dirty BTC” by recommending Whirlpool as a superior option. Rodriguez reportedly encouraged Twitter hackers in 2020 to funnel stolen proceeds through the mixing service. He even expressed disappointment when they chose a competitor.
Most damaging was Rodriguez’s own description of mixing as “money laundering for bitcoin” in WhatsApp messages. At the same time, the company’s marketing materials acknowledged targeting “Dark/Grey Market participants” moving proceeds from “illicit activity.”
Prosecutors said criminal funds processed through Samourai originated from drug trafficking, darknet marketplaces, cyber intrusions, fraud, sanctioned jurisdictions, murder-for-hire schemes, and a child pornography website.
Broader Implications
The case has reignited debate over developer liability for user actions on decentralized platforms. Privacy advocates argue that the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent for open-source software development, while law enforcement maintains that actively promoting criminal use crosses legal boundaries.
Online discussions have expanded to question whether Roman Storm, the Tornado Cash developer convicted on similar charges in August, might also be considered for clemency. Storm was found guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The jury deadlocked on more serious money laundering and sanctions violation charges.
Congress continues to debate cryptocurrency regulation. The lawmakers are introducing multiple bills to clarify the legal status of privacy-enhancing technologies, though none have passed into law.
Trump has previously pardoned several crypto figures, including former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, establishing a pattern that fuels speculation about future clemency decisions in the sector.
Source: https://beincrypto.com/trump-signals-samourai-wallet-pardon/
