U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will review a potential pardon for Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of the now-defunct privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet service, Samourai Wallet. During a Q&A session with journalists at the Oval Office, Trump stated, "I've heard about it, I'll look at it," and directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was present, to examine the case, adding, "I don't know anything about it, but we'll take a look."
Rodriguez and his co-founder, William Lonergan Hill, were arrested and prosecuted during the Biden administration. The Department of Justice charged them with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Prosecutors alleged that Samourai Wallet's crypto mixing service, which obfuscated transaction sources and destinations, was used to launder millions of dollars in criminal proceeds. Last month, Rodriguez was sentenced to five years in prison, while Hill, the former CTO, received a four-year sentence.
This development follows a pattern of high-profile crypto-related pardons by President Trump. In October, he pardoned former Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, declaring an end to the Biden administration's "war against crypto." He also recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the darknet marketplace Silk Road, which helped popularize Bitcoin's use.
In response, Rodriguez posted on X, expressing gratitude for Trump's attention. He wrote, "I have always said that the most challenging aspect of getting a pardon for me and Bill would be getting the attention of [Donald Trump]... If he looks at our case closely it will be a case of deja vu, and I think he would do the right thing and grant us a pardon." Rodriguez noted he has four days remaining before he is due to report to federal prison.
The case has become a focal point for privacy advocates in the cryptocurrency space, with many who championed Ulbricht's pardon now calling for clemency for the Samourai founders and developers of other mixing services like Tornado Cash.
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