Samourai Wallet Co‑Founder Keonne Rodriguez Reports From Prison as Debate Over Privacy Tools and Liability Intensifies

Keonne Rodriguez, co‑founder of Bitcoin privacy app Samourai Wallet, published a letter from a U.S. federal prison describing his first week after surrendering to begin a five‑year sentence. Rodriguez detailed intake procedures, medical checks, housing moves and an emotional family goodbye, calling the facility “confusing and unnatural” but “manageable” and saying fellow inmates treated him respectfully. He was sentenced on Nov. 19 in connection with his role in a crypto mixing protocol; prosecutors argue some tools were structured or promoted in ways that enabled illicit transfers. Supporters warn the prosecution threatens open‑source development and free speech, with a clemency petition gathering over 12,000 signatures and public calls for a pardon; former President Donald Trump said he would “take a look” at the case. The story has drawn comparisons to the Tornado Cash prosecution and sharpened debate over whether creating or maintaining privacy software can trigger criminal liability. For crypto traders, the case highlights regulatory and legal risk for privacy tools and services—potentially affecting developer behaviour, project funding, and market sentiment toward privacy‑focused crypto solutions.