Growing Support for Presidential Pardon of Samourai Wallet Developers
- Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill were sentenced to five and four years in prison, respectively, for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
- A petition advocating for their pardon has garnered over 3,200 signatures from the Bitcoin community.
- High-profile Bitcoin advocates, including Max Keiser and Walker America, are urging US President Donald Trump to intervene before the developers report to prison in January 2026.
- The Bitcoin Policy Institute argues that the prosecution misapplied federal law regarding non-custodial software and risks stifling innovation in privacy tools.
- Critics highlight a disparity in pardons issued by Trump, questioning the fairness of clemency granted to wealthy individuals compared to open-source developers facing similar charges.
Support for pardoning Rodriguez and Hill reflects broader concerns about the legal treatment of non-custodial software developers in the cryptocurrency space. The outcome could significantly impact future innovation in privacy-focused tools within the United States.
As advocates push for justice, the petition’s growth to over 3,200 signatures underscores a strong community desire for clarity on legal protections for developers.(Source)
