- Trump acknowledged the Samourai Wallet case and asked the attorney general to review it.
- Rodriguez received five years after pleading guilty to unlicensed money transmission charges.
- The remarks follow earlier crypto pardons and a broader pullback in federal cases.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will review a potential pardon for Keonne Rodriguez during a press Q&A at the Oval Office on Monday. Trump responded after journalists asked about Rodriguez, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Samourai Wallet. “I’ve heard about it; I’ll look at it,” Trump said before asking U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to examine the case.
The comments come as Trump continues to revisit high-profile crypto cases tied to federal enforcement actions under the previous administration. Could the Samourai Wallet case become the next major crypto pardon under Trump’s presidency?
Samourai Wallet Case and DOJ Charges
Samourai Wallet operated as a privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet that included a crypto mixing feature. The service aimed to obscure transaction origins and destinations by blending user funds. Federal prosecutors argued the tool enabled users to conceal illicit proceeds.
During the Biden administration, the Department of Justice arrested Rodriguez and co-founder William Lonergan Hill. Prosecutors charged both men with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Authorities accused the platform of encouraging users to process millions of dollars in criminal proceeds.
Last month, a federal court sentenced Rodriguez to five years in prison. The sentence stemmed from operating Samurai with a mixing feature linked to money laundering. Hill, who served as chief technology officer, received a four-year sentence.
Plea Deal and Limited Legal Options
Rodriguez and Hill initially denied all charges after their arrest, but in July, both men entered plea agreements with federal prosecutors. They admitted to one count of operating an unlicensed money-transmission service.
The plea deal reduced their exposure to a possible 25-year sentence. The original charges included up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy. They also faced up to five years for unlicensed business activity.
Rodriguez later said the plea deal removed most appeal options. “I’m not 100% sure, but as I understand it, an appeal is unlikely,” he told journalist Natalie Brunell. He also said he regretted the decision but feared exclusion of key defense evidence at trial.
Trump Pardons and Crypto Enforcement Shift
Trump’s remarks followed his recent pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. Ulbricht had served two life sentences for operating a darknet marketplace using Bitcoin. The platform helped popularize early cryptocurrency adoption, according to court records.
In 2025, Trump also pardoned BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao also received a presidential pardon. These actions fueled broader calls within the crypto community for further clemency.
Rodriguez has publicly argued his case mirrors Trump’s own DOJ battles. On X, he wrote that Trump understands what he called a “weaponized Biden DOJ.” Rodriguez thanked Trump and supporters while noting four days remained before reporting to FPC Morgantown.
Related: Trump Ends ‘War on Crypto’ with A Pardon To Binance Founder CZ
Regulatory Context and Market Reaction
Many bitcoin supporters now advocate pardons for Samourai Wallet founders and Tornado Cash developers. Tornado Cash operates as another crypto mixing service tied to privacy tools.
Advocates argue such prosecutions target software developers rather than criminal actors.
According to The New York Times, the SEC has paused, closed, or ended about 60% of crypto cases since Trump took office. Reporters cited lawsuits involving Ripple and Binance among affected actions. The paper reported no evidence of direct White House pressure on the agency. SEC officials deny political motivation behind enforcement changes. They said legal and policy reassessments drove the shift.
