Donald Trump Considers Pardon for Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Keonne Rodriguez Amid Broader Crypto Stance

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would consider a pardon for Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of the privacy-focused Bitcoin mixer, Samourai Wallet. This statement comes as Rodriguez faces an imminent federal prison sentence, intensifying the crypto community’s focus on the case.

During a media interview at the White House, Trump was directly questioned about Rodriguez’s situation. “I’ve heard about it, and I’ll look into it,” he responded, immediately tasking Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was present, to review the details. Trump acknowledged his current unfamiliarity with the specifics but vowed, “we will find out the truth.”

The Samourai Wallet Controversy: Privacy Tool or Criminal Conduit?

Samourai Wallet positioned itself as a Bitcoin wallet dedicated to enhancing user privacy through its “coin mixing service.” This core functionality aimed to obscure the origin and destination of funds in transactions, thereby increasing anonymity for its users.

However, under the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) took a starkly different view. Prosecutors arrested Keonne Rodriguez and fellow co-founder William Lonergan Hill, accusing them of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The DOJ alleged that Samourai Wallet, despite its privacy claims, had become a significant facilitator for criminals to launder illicit funds, reportedly assisting in the laundering of up to $237 million.

Guilty Pleas and Sentencing

In July of this year, both founders admitted their guilt. Rodriguez was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison, while Hill received a four-year sentence. Hill’s slightly lighter penalty was attributed to his advanced age and autism diagnosis.

Trump’s Growing Intervention in Crypto Cases

Trump’s consideration of a pardon for Rodriguez is not an isolated incident but rather the latest in a series of high-profile interventions in the cryptocurrency space. Earlier, he pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the darknet marketplace “Silk Road,” who was serving two life sentences for operating a platform that facilitated the trade of drugs and illegal goods using Bitcoin. Silk Road is widely recognized for its role in Bitcoin’s early adoption.

More recently, in October, Trump also pardoned Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, famously declaring that “the Biden administration’s war on the cryptocurrency industry is over.” These actions signal a clear stance from Trump regarding regulatory enforcement within the digital asset sector.

Rodriguez’s Urgent Appeal

In response to Trump’s announcement, Keonne Rodriguez took to social media platform X, expressing his gratitude and hope:

“I’ve always believed that the biggest challenge in securing a pardon for Bill and me was getting President Trump to notice our case,” Rodriguez wrote. “He should be well aware of how a weaponized Biden DOJ pursues political opponents… If he carefully reviews our case, he will surely have a sense of déjà vu, and I believe he will make the right decision.”

Rodriguez’s post also highlighted the critical urgency of his situation, noting that he has only four days remaining before he must report to federal prison FPC Morgantown. This tight deadline has made the prospect of a presidential pardon the final, fervent hope for him and a significant point of anticipation within the crypto community.