Will Trump's Administration Reexamine the Samourai Wallet Prosecution? What's Driving the Momentum

The crypto community is buzzing over fresh signals that the Trump administration might revisit the Samourai Wallet developers’ case—one of the most contentious privacy-tool prosecutions in recent US legal history. With mounting pressure from advocates and Trump’s increasingly explicit pro-Bitcoin rhetoric, the question isn’t just whether a pardon might happen, but when enforcement priorities could shift fundamentally.

What’s Actually at Stake in This Case

Since April 2024, the DOJ has pursued Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, the developers behind Samourai Wallet, alleging they operated an unlicensed money transmission service. The specific charge: facilitating $2 billion in illicit transactions through Whirlpool, the wallet’s coin-mixing feature. Prosecutors argue the mixer enabled money laundering; the defense counters that Samourai functions as non-custodial software—not a financial service subject to transmission laws. This distinction matters enormously for how US regulators might treat privacy tools going forward.

Trump’s recent comments—“We’ll look into cases where innovation is being stifled”—have essentially put this prosecution in the spotlight. Combined with his pledge to establish a national Bitcoin reserve and position America as a “crypto superpower,” the signal carries real weight in policy circles.

The Movement Behind #FreeSamourai Is Bigger Than You Think

What’s remarkable isn’t just that privacy advocates are calling for leniency; it’s the breadth of the coalition. Figures like Edward Snowden have publicly backed the developers, while organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation have filed statements emphasizing that privacy software itself is neutral technology. Over 50,000 petition signatures have accumulated, representing not fringe sentiment but mainstream crypto community consensus.

Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, framed the stakes clearly: “A pardon would signal that the US welcomes privacy innovation, not that we condone crime.” This distinction is crucial—the debate isn’t whether criminals exist, but whether tools designed for privacy are inherently criminal.

How This Could Reshape US Crypto Development

If the Trump administration follows through with a review, the implications ripple across multiple fronts. First, it could reverse the trend of crypto developers moving offshore to avoid US legal ambiguity. Second, it would redefine the boundary between money transmission regulation and software development rights. Third, it establishes a precedent for how future administrations treat privacy-enhancing technology.

Critics warn that leniency could weaken anti-money laundering frameworks. But proponents counter that privacy and compliance aren’t mutually exclusive—other nations manage both simultaneously.

Market Temperature Check

Bitcoin’s 2% uptick following the news reflects cautious optimism. Traders are reading Trump’s signal not just as potential pardon, but as broader deregulatory intent. However, market observers note this could reverse quickly if enforcement actions resume elsewhere in crypto.

What Happens Next

The Samourai case has become a litmus test for Trump’s actual crypto policy versus campaign rhetoric. Watch for official DOJ policy statements or executive actions in coming weeks. Whether this becomes a pardon, a plea bargain, or a stalled prosecution will shape how developers and investors perceive regulatory risk in the US crypto space for years to come.

The crypto community’s attention is fixed on Washington. Updates will arrive quickly.