In a poignant final interview before surrendering to federal authorities, Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of the privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai Wallet, shared his harrowing journey from innovative developer to convicted felon.
As Rodriguez began a five-year prison sentence on December 19, 2025, he highlighted the broader “war on privacy” in cryptocurrency, where building tools for financial anonymity is increasingly equated with criminality. His case, stemming from a 2024 arrest, has sparked debates on free speech, innovation, and government overreach in the crypto space.
From Bitcoin Enthusiast to Wallet Innovator
Rodriguez’s path into crypto began in the early 2010s, inspired by global financial crises and the need for “uncensorable money.” Dropping out of high school to pursue tech, he joined Blockchain.info before teaming up with William Lonergan Hill to create Samourai Wallet in 2015. Designed as an open-source, non-custodial tool, it prioritized user privacy through features like collaborative transactions and Tor routing, shielding balances from surveillance and threats like “wrench attacks.” Rodriguez emphasized its role in aiding users in repressive regimes, underscoring privacy as a human right.
The Arrest and Legal Battle
The turning point came on April 24, 2024, when FBI agents raided Rodriguez’s home in a dramatic pre-dawn operation, leading to his arrest on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Prosecutors alleged Samourai facilitated over $237 million in criminal proceeds, citing tweets as evidence of intent to attract illicit users. Despite arguments that the wallet was non-custodial and aligned with FinCEN guidelines, motions to dismiss were denied. Facing up to 25 years, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the unlicensed charge in a deal that dropped money laundering, resulting in his five-year sentence.
Calls for Pardon and the Fight for Privacy
As Rodriguez reported to MDC Brooklyn—a notorious facility—calls for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump have intensified. In his interview with Naomi Brockwell, he accused the Biden-era DOJ of “lawfare,” framing his prosecution as part of a global assault on privacy developers. Supporters argue that targeting tools like Samourai stifles innovation and erodes digital freedoms, urging action through petitions at billandkeonne.org.
Implications for Crypto’s Future
Rodriguez’s co-founder, William Hill, received a four-year sentence in the same case, amplifying concerns over crypto enforcement’s expanding reach. As 2025 closes with record crypto adoption, this saga warns of a chilling effect on privacy tech. Rodriguez’s final plea: If privacy is criminalized, the tools protecting everyday users may vanish, leaving a surveillance-heavy landscape. The crypto community must rally to defend builders like him to preserve the industry’s core values.
Full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fshsk8MCAf4