Advocates for financial anonymity have shared their displeasure with the perceived heavy-handedness in the sentencing of Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez. They are fighting back against what they believe is regulatory hostility toward privacy-enhancing crypto tools.
On November 6, 2025, Judge Denise L. Cote sentenced Rodriguez to 60 months in federal prison, ending a legal episode that started when Rodriguez and Lonergan Hill were arrested in April 2024. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges on July 30, 2025. With that development, privacy advocates are rallying support to potentially escalate their lobby to the level of the White House.
Bitcoin community criticizes of Samourai dev’s sentencing
The Bitcoin Policy Institute and several other well-known libertarian activists are now gathering support for Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez. According to them, the case is being viewed as part of a growing crackdown on financial anonymity.
Angela McArdle, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee and a known Bitcoin advocate, posted on X, “The Samourai Wallet sentencing is terrible. I am working on it. I am working on a LOT of these cases. I need Bitcoiners to flex their influence right now. You need to make calls to the admin. We will not win this in the wake courts. We can win in the White House.”
Zack Shapiro, the co-founder of the Bitcoin Policy Institute, a nonprofit that promotes Bitcoin-related research and advocacy, has also called for an organized outreach to lawmakers and the government administration, responding to McArdle’s post with support, writing on X, “For Bitcoiners who are upset about the Samourai Wallet outcome, this is our best shot going forward. @RealAngelaMc was one of the main driving forces behind the Ross pardon, so please reach out with any support you can give.”
His message refers to the 2020 pardon campaign for Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, which McArdle helped lead through a coalition of libertarian and Bitcoin activists. The Trump administration pardoned Ulbricht in January 2025, as reported by Cryptopolitan at the time. Samourai Wallet was marketed as a “premium privacy service” for Bitcoin users.
Prosecutors claimed that the wallet processed roughly $237 million in illicit transactions between 2015 and April 2024. Its website and social media promotions emphasized anonymity and ease of use, highlighting features like “no email address, no ID check, and no hassle.” Tornado Cash developers are facing similar charges for running an Ethereum-based mixer, and its resolution could depend on the efforts of these crypto privacy advocates.
