Trump Eyes Clemency for Samourai Wallet Founder Sentenced to 5 Years

TLDR

• Trump said he would review the Keonne Rodriguez case after a 5-year sentence.

• Rodriguez co-founded the privacy-focused Bitcoin app Samourai Wallet.

• Prosecutors said Rodriguez processed $2B in transactions tied to dark web use.

• Critics say his conviction threatens crypto privacy software development.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would review the case of Keonne Rodriguez, the co-founder of Samourai Wallet, after the developer was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

The comment was made during a press interaction in the Oval Office on Monday after a question from Decrypt about a possible pardon.

Samourai Wallet Legal Case and Sentencing Details

Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, both co-founders of Samourai Wallet, were arrested in April 2025. Federal prosecutors accused the pair of laundering money and running an unlicensed crypto transmission platform.

According to the Department of Justice, Rodriguez admitted to facilitating over $2 billion in transactions, including some linked to dark web marketplaces. He accepted a plea deal in order to avoid a longer sentence and is set to begin serving his term on Friday. Hill was sentenced to four years.

Samourai Wallet is known for offering privacy tools such as coin mixing and transaction obfuscation. Authorities argued that the platform was used to hide criminal transactions. Supporters of Rodriguez say his work focused on individual privacy and financial freedom, not illegal activity.

Debate Over Crypto Privacy and Regulation

The case has attracted attention across the crypto industry, where many believe the prosecution represents a challenge to privacy-focused software development. Critics say the charges could create legal risks for developers building open-source privacy tools.

The debate echoes similar concerns raised in the Tornado Cash case, where co-founder Roman Storm was convicted of running an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Storm’s supporters argue that writing privacy-preserving code should not be considered a criminal offense.

Crypto advocates also say the use of social media posts and code repositories as evidence in court could set concerning legal precedents for developers. They cite protections under the First and Fourth Amendments, including the right to write and distribute software code and to maintain digital privacy.

Trump and Public Reaction

When asked by Decrypt if he would consider a pardon for Samourai Wallet founder Rodriguez, Trump responded, “I’m aware of the matter and will look into it.” His comments followed a growing online campaign calling attention to Rodriguez’s situation.

Public support for Rodriguez has been building on social media platforms. Prominent crypto voices including Ross Ulbricht’s advocates and researchers from Galaxy Digital have spoken about the case. Some say Rodriguez’s prosecution risks limiting innovation in privacy-preserving technologies.

A recent live discussion featuring Jesse Tevelow and Rodriguez gained widespread attention. It covered topics such as constitutional protections, digital freedom, and the legal boundaries of software development.

Ongoing Industry Concerns

Samourai Wallet founder Rodriguez’s case is being viewed as a broader test of how U.S. law treats the intersection of privacy, crypto development, and free expression. Developers, researchers, and legal experts continue to examine whether enforcement actions are aligning with constitutional rights.

Although the case has now entered the sentencing phase, attention is likely to grow if Trump continues to signal interest. A pardon could reshape the legal landscape around crypto privacy tools and influence how future enforcement actions are approached.

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