The two developers behind privacy-focused Bitcoin app Samurai Wallet have now been sentenced to several years behind bars. Keon Rodriguez sentenced a few weeks agoWhile William Lonergan Hill was Sentenced on WednesdayThese prison sentences have been heavily criticized by Bitcoin users and financial privacy advocates, as Samurai Wallet was non-custodial Bitcoin wallet software intended to improve privacy in transactions,
That said, Samurai Wallet had some elements of centralized servicing in its structure, as the developers ran the servers and collected fees for certain features in the wallet app. Additionally, Samurai Wallet acknowledged the use of its apps and services by criminals and sanctioned entities on social media.
So yes, this is a false comparison because VPN business owners and operators cannot “conspire” to violate a law by operating a business that does not apply to VPN businesses.
– James Farrell (@Farrell1969) 20 November 2025
The Samurai Wallet developers’ multi-year sentence relates to the use of their software and services for money laundering purposes, which is similar to the charges against Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former CEO of crypto exchange Binance. Earlier convicted in 2023cz was sent to jail Ultimately for their role in not implementing adequate anti-money laundering standards at the exchange Got pardon from Trump,
However, reporting from earlier this year told A business relationship between CZ and Trump-affiliated crypto business interests. The light of the pardon has troubled many, including the former pardon chief of the US Justice Department Claim This is a clear case of corruption and clearly a quid pro quo deal.
Now, there is A Change.org petition Asking President Trump to pardon a pair of Samurai Wallet developers. However, there is no indication that these Bitcoin wallet developers have any business ties to Trump, his family, or anyone else associated with them. In other words, the lack of amnesty for these developers has the potential to make the scenario surrounding the CZ amnesty even worse.
It would mean a lot if you sign this petition calling for @realdonaldtrump to forgive me and bill
We will report to jail in 30 days. Unless the President intervenes.
Developers should not be liable for the actions of bad actors using their software#freesamourai,
– Keon Rodriguez (@keonne) 19 November 2025
While Samurai Wallet had points of centralization built into its software, Binance operated as a fully centralized, custodial exchange with far greater control over user funds. Although the legal liability related to the services provided by Samurai Wallet may be debated, it does not seem that they were doing anything worse than CZ, which was Trump. It has been told Being a victim of the “Biden witch hunt”, according to those around him.
That said, one area of difference between the two cases that could be brought up was that Samurai Wallet was specifically aimed at enhancing user privacy, while Binance was focused on serving as an exchange. Then again, it can be argued that Binance’s entire business model was effectively built around lax standards When it came to tracking the financial activities of its users.
Samurai Wallet developers have also been sentenced to significantly longer sentences than CZ. Rodriguez received five years, Hill received four years, and CZ received four months.
While Trump’s second term as president has mostly consisted of promoting crypto profiteering and stablecoins up to this point, there is still an opportunity to impose greater protections for Bitcoin developers and node operators through the Clarity Act, which has passed the House and is now being debated in the Senate. The bill in its current form includes such protections, but it has not yet been finalized.
Back in DC pushing for market structure legislation. There has been a lot of good progress since I was last here which is great to see. Mark-up and commissioning of Clarity Bill is expected in December @POTUSDesk immediately after.
This bill will unlock even more crypto… pic.twitter.com/BW7TUJZL80
– Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) 18 November 2025
It is noteworthy that even before Trump Convicted operator of darknet market Silk Road pardoned Bitcoin users as part of their political embrace, so there may still be some hope for Samurai Wallet developers.