7 Facts Trump Considers Samourai Wallet Developer Case

Jakarta, Pintu News – The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has publicly expressed readiness to review the legal case involving privacy-based Bitcoin (BTC) wallet developer, Samourai Wallet, which is now being discussed by the global cryptocurrency community.

This statement comes amid a widespread campaign from digital privacy advocates and organizations such as the Bitcoin Policy Institute calling for Trump to consider granting Ân xá to the defendants. Legal data and Trump’s comments suggest that the president will seek the Attorney General’s review of the case, although no final decision on a pardon has been made.

1. Chronology of the Samourai Wallet Case Monitored by the Public

The case began when Samourai Wallet’s founders, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, were arrested in April 2024 on charges of operating a money transmission business without a license, reportedly in connection with a crypto mixing service.

The two developers later accepted a guilty plea deal in July 2025, where Rodriguez was sentenced to five years in prison and Hill to four years in prison. The charges covered the operation of services that were deemed to facilitate unregulated transactions, according to court records.

The defendants initially pleaded not guilty, but later agreed to a guilty plea to avoid more severe charges with a maximum total sentence of up to 25 years. This decision became a hot topic in the crypto community as it relates to privacy tools that are debated for their use.

2. Trump Statement on Case Review

During a question and answer session at the White House, Trump stated that he had “heard about” Samourai Wallet’s case and would “look at it more closely,” signaling a possible review or special treatment of the case.

Trump requested that the Attorney General consider the legal aspects of the penalties imposed on the developers. This statement was confirmed during a press conference that also covered other issues on the administration’s agenda.

Trump’s comments show openness to pardon requests but caution in setting official commitments, so there is still much discussion going on among policymakers and the crypto community.

3. Encouragement from Crypto Communities and Organizations

Prior to Trump’s statement, the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) launched a petition that has garnered more than 3,200 signatures, calling for Trump to grant Rodriguez and Hill bail before they are required to begin serving their sentences. BPI argues that federal law is being inappropriately applied against open-source privacy tools like Samourai Wallet.

Other supporters, including figures in the Bitcoin community such as Max Keiser, have also stated that emphasizing demands on developers who create non-custodial and privacy tools could create a precedent that stifles technological innovation in the cryptocurrency sector.

4. Legal and Privacy Debate In Crypto

The case is at the center of a debate over the limits of crypto software developers’ liability for the actions of third parties using their tools. Privacy advocates argue that developers of open-source tools should not be held criminally liable for how others use them. They emphasize that financial privacy is an important element in the evolution of blockchain technology.

On the other hand, law enforcement officials consider that crypto-mixing services, such as those run through Samourai Wallet, are sometimes used to hide illegal activities and need to be monitored as part of enforcement against money laundering.

5. Potential Implications of the Trump Review

If Trump decides to proceed with the review or even grant an xá, this could be a strong signal to the way US authorities treat similar privacy tool cases in the future.

Legal and policy analysts say that such a decision could affect how federal law is applied to technological innovations that straddle the line between privacy and criminal enforcement.

This decision may also reflect political attitudes towards the broader cryptocurrency industry, especially regarding issues of device development and developers’ rights in the context of modern law.

6. Sentencing Schedule and Further Review

Rodriguez is scheduled to begin serving his sentence in December 2025 or early January 2026, while Hill will follow shortly after. Trump’s decision to review the case will occur at a late stage before their sentencing dates, leaving little room for political intervention in the ongoing legal process.

The crypto community continues to track this development closely as the outcome is expected to impact the future of law enforcement on privacy technologies and open-source device development.

7. Global Reaction to the Case

International media and the privacy tech developer community are closely monitoring Trump’s response, noting how the ruling against Samourai Wallet developers could reflect global trends in the approach to regulation and enforcement of privacy tools in the blockchain industry. Observers say that this momentum is taking the debate from the realm of the crypto community to the realm of national and international policy.

This case is in the spotlight because it illustrates the intersection of traditional law, public policy, and the complex development of crypto technology.

FAQ

What is Samourai Wallet and why is the case important?

Samourai Wallet is a Bitcoin (BTC) wallet with privacy features, and the legal case against its developer is at the center of a debate about the limits of liability for crypto-device developers.

Who is scheduled to serve the sentence?

Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill were sentenced to five and four years in prison respectively after pleading guilty to operating a money transmission business without a license.

What did Trump say about the possibility of Ân xá?

Trump said he had “heard about” the case and would take a closer look at it, as well as request a review from the Attorney General.

What is the crypto community doing about this case?

Organizations such as the Bitcoin Policy Institute launched a petition that has garnered more than 3,200 signatures calling for Trump to consider Ân xá.

Why did this case spark a debate about privacy?

Privacy advocates argue that prosecutions could create precedents that limit innovation and criminalize the development of software privacy tools. Magazine

Reference

• Bitcoin.com News. Trump Signals Review of Samourai Wallet Developers’ Case as Pardon Calls Grow. Accessed December 21, 2025