US Prosecutors Seek Maximum Sentence for Samourai Wallet Developers

US prosecutors seek five-year prison terms for Samourai Wallet developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill. They pled guilty to conspiracy for operating an unlicensed money transmitter.

The developers designed privacy features like Whirlpool and Ricochet, allegedly used to obscure transaction trails linked to over $237 million in illicit funds.
Charges include connections to drug trafficking, darknet markets, hacks, and fraud, with new allegations of murder-for-hire and child pornography ties.
Rodriguez and Hill requested time served, arguing their focus was on Bitcoin as digital cash rather than investment or scams.
Letters from the developers highlight their belief in financial privacy and personal independence.

A recent pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao by President Trump after AML lapses is noted, while broader debates on privacy software continue.

The case parallels Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's conviction for similar charges.
Ethereum Foundation has pledged support for such developers, amid growing interest in privacy coins like Zcash.
The outcome may signal increased regulatory action against non-custodial privacy tools.