In a recent White House press Q&A, President Donald Trump indicated he would review the case of Keonne Rodriguez, the co-founder and CEO of the privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai Wallet, for a potential pardon.
Responding to a reporter's question about the crypto community's calls for leniency, Trump stated, "I've heard about it. I'll look at it," and added, "Rodriguez, we'll look at that... You know, you'll have to tell me. I don't know anything about it, but we'll take a look."
This brief but notable remark comes as Trump continues to soften his administration's stance on the cryptocurrency industry, following high-profile pardons and a broader pushback against what he has described as the Biden era's "war on crypto."
The Samourai Wallet Case: Privacy Tools Under Fire
Samourai Wallet, launched in 2015 by Rodriguez and his co-founder William Lonergan Hill, was designed as a non-custodial Bitcoin wallet emphasizing user privacy. The platform included a feature called Whirlpool, a cryptocurrency mixer that allowed users to obfuscate transaction histories, making it harder for third parties to trace funds. U.S. authorities, however, viewed this as facilitating money laundering.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Samourai Wallet processed over $2 billion in transactions, including millions from illicit sources such as dark web markets and ransomware operations.
In August 2025, both founders pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and money laundering.
Rodriguez was sentenced to five years in federal prison on November 17, 2025, while Hill received a four-year sentence two days later. U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote handed down the sentences, marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on privacy-enhancing crypto tools.
The case originated under the Biden administration but was finalized during Trump's term, highlighting ongoing tensions in crypto enforcement.
Critics argue that the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent for developers building privacy-focused software. Rodriguez and Hill maintained that their tool was intended for legitimate privacy protection, not criminal activity, and that they did not control user funds.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Rodriguez expressed hope for a pardon, saying, "If Donald Trump takes a close look at our case, he'll see a déjà vu with how the Biden DOJ hunted down their opponents. I believe he'll do the right thing and grant a pardon."
Broader Context: Trump's Crypto Pardons and Policy Shift
Trump's willingness to consider Rodriguez's pardon aligns with his recent actions in the crypto space. In October 2025, he pardoned Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, who had pleaded guilty to anti-money laundering violations and served a brief prison term.
Trump described the move as ending the "war against crypto" waged by the previous administration, emphasizing that Zhao's actions "weren't even a crime" in his view. The pardon drew criticism, including from Senator Elizabeth Warren, who warned of potential corruption in crypto regulation.
Earlier, in January 2025, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace, after Ulbricht had served nearly 12 years of a life sentence.
Since his release, Ulbricht has remained active in the crypto community, receiving a $31.4 million Bitcoin donation in June 2025 and considering launching a new decentralized marketplace after being snubbed by eBay. These pardons signal Trump's pivot toward a more pro-crypto agenda, including promises to foster innovation and reduce regulatory overreach.
Adding nuance to the debate, in August 2025, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the DOJ stated at a crypto summit that "merely writing code, without ill-intent, is not a crime." This clarification came amid ongoing cases like Samourai and Tornado Cash, a similar Ethereum-based mixer whose developers faced charges for enabling over $1 billion in laundered funds.
Galeotti's remarks suggest a potential narrowing of enforcement to cases involving clear malicious intent, offering some relief to developers but leaving gray areas in decentralized protocols.
Crypto Community's Response and Calls for More Pardons
The crypto community has rallied around Rodriguez's case, viewing it as part of a broader assault on financial privacy. On X, users have amplified calls for pardons not just for Samourai developers but also for those involved with Tornado Cash.
One prominent post urged, "Pardon CZ, Pardon Roger Ver, Pardon Tornado Cash, Pardon Samourai Wallet," emphasizing that "financial privacy is not a crime." Another highlighted the implications for privacy projects like ZCash and RailGun, questioning developer safety under current laws.
Advocates argue that tools like Samourai promote user sovereignty in an era of increasing surveillance, drawing parallels to traditional banking privacy.
However, regulators counter that such mixers disproportionately aid criminals, with the DOJ estimating that illicit funds accounted for a significant portion of Samourai's activity.
Implications for the Future of Crypto Regulation
If Trump proceeds with a pardon for Rodriguez, it could further embolden crypto innovators while straining relations with law enforcement agencies. The move might also influence pending legislation, such as digital asset bills delayed until 2026. As the industry evolves, the line between privacy protection and criminal facilitation remains blurred, with cases like this testing the boundaries of free speech in code.
Trump's administration has yet to provide further details on the review, but the president's track record suggests a continued thaw in U.S.-crypto relations. For Rodriguez, who is set to begin his sentence soon, this could mean a dramatic reversal—and a win for crypto privacy advocates worldwide.
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Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) - Daily insights on Web3, AI, Crypto, and Freelance. Stay updated on finance, technology trends, and creator tools - with sources and real value.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
This is not financial or investment advice. Always do your own research (DYOR).
