Samourai Wallet co-founders to now plead guilty to US charges
Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, co-founders of Samourai Wallet, have announced their intent to change their not guilty plea regarding charges related to their crypto mixing service. The charges include operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and conspiracy to commit money laundering, potentially leading to a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. In a New York federal court, their filings indicated they would plead guilty ahead of a scheduled trial set for November 3, 2025. Previously, the pair sought to dismiss the case, citing comments from authorities suggesting that individuals behind crypto mixers might not be prosecuted for unintentional regulatory violations. Despite these attempts, the prosecutors' case against them remained intact. Samourai Wallet operates similarly to other mixing protocols, allowing users to obscure the origins of their cryptocurrency transactions, contributing to concerns regarding the legal treatment of privacy tools in the sector. This plea change aligns with ongoing scrutiny of other crypto mixing operations, particularly with Roman Storm's trial, which raises questions about the future of privacy rights in blockchain technology.
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