Trump to Review Pardon Request for Samourai Wallet CEO Keonne Rodriguez

Highlights:

• Trump is set to review the pardon of the Samourai Wallet chief ahead of his prison reporting date this week.
• Samourai Wallet founders are facing long prison terms after Biden-era charges tied to Bitcoin mixing services.
• The crypto community has cited past Trump pardons as they push for the pardon of wallet developers.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he will review a potential pardon for Keonne Rodriguez, the chief executive officer of Samourai Wallet. He made the comment during a question session with reporters at the Oval Office on Monday. A reporter asked whether he would consider clemency in the case. Trump said he had heard about the matter and would look into it. He then asked why the case deserved a pardon review.

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🚨 JUST IN: PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE IS CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE PARDON FOR SAMOURAI WALLET CO-FOUNDER KEONNE RODRIGUEZ. pic.twitter.com/nLa41cbr4q

— Coinwaft (@coinwaft) December 16, 2025

Trump addressed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during the exchange and asked her to examine the case. He said he did not know the details of the prosecution. However, he confirmed that his administration would review the matter. The comments came days before Rodriguez is scheduled to begin his prison sentence. The White House did not confirm whether a formal pardon review has started.

The remarks marked Trump’s first public acknowledgment of the case. They came during an unscripted exchange with journalists. The administration did not issue a written statement afterward. Officials also did not outline any review timeline. The comments spread quickly across crypto-focused news outlets.

Rodriguez is scheduled to report to federal prison later this week. The timing added urgency to public discussion around clemency. Trump did not express support or opposition to the sentence. He also avoided commenting on the court’s ruling. The exchange ended without further questions.

Trump to Review Pardon After Federal Conviction Tied to Privacy Wallet

Federal authorities arrested Rodriguez and Samourai Wallet co-founder William Lonergan Hill in April 2024 under the Biden administration. The Department of Justice charged both with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors also charged them with operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The case centered on Samourai Wallet, a privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet.

Prosecutors accused the service of assisting users in hiding transaction histories. According to court documents, the platform had handled an estimated amount of $237 million in illegal funds. Officials claimed that the tool was used by criminals to conceal the source of bitcoin transactions. Rodriguez later pleaded guilty in federal court. The case was closed with a plea without a trial.

Last month, a federal judge sentenced Rodriguez to five years in prison. District Judge Denise Cote issued the ruling in the Southern District of New York. The court ordered Rodriguez to begin serving the sentence this week. Hill received a separate four-year prison sentence. The court accepted both plea agreements.

🚨JUST IN: Samourai Wallet developer William Hill sentenced to 4 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release pic.twitter.com/xMFggOFkDd

— The Rage (@theragetech) November 19, 2025

Prosecutors claimed that the wallet operators facilitated criminal conduct using the mixing service. Defense filings claimed the software offered privacy protection to legitimate users. The court emphasized the conduct that had been admitted at the time of sentencing. It made no ruling on the legality of software mixing in general. The convictions stand unless executive action is taken.

Industry Response Builds as Support Campaign Gains Attention

Rodriguez reacted in the media to the statements made by Trump. He termed the comments of the president as a step in the right direction. Rodriguez was grateful that Trump recognized the case. In addition, He also appreciated those who created awareness.

I have always said that the most challenging aspect of getting a pardon for me and Bill would be getting the attention of @realDonaldTrump. He is very busy with many people competing for his attention. Today, thanks to the journalist at Decrypt, the President is aware of our… https://t.co/lmYljfFax9

— Keonne Rodriguez (@keonne) December 15, 2025

Crypto supporters have cited prior pardons granted to prominent crypto players by Trump. Trump has already pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the leader of the Silk Road marketplace. Ulbricht had spent over ten years in prison. Trump also pardoned former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao in October. The move ended months of legal uncertainty surrounding Zhao. Trump later said the decision reflected opposition to aggressive crypto enforcement. The pardon drew criticism from some lawmakers.

Crypto advocates also referenced cases tied to Tornado Cash developers. Supporters argued the prosecutions raised concerns about software liability. Several online campaigns have renewed calls for broader clemency in the Samourai Wallet case.

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