The Justice Department made a stunning announcement today, revealing the arrest of Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill for their involvement in Samourai Wallet. These individuals are accused of running an unlicensed money transmitting business that allegedly carried out unlawful transactions.
But hold on a second. Samourai Wallet is a completely self-custodial wallet that puts users in control of their funds from start to finish. Their dedication to user privacy and security has been unwavering since day one. The allegations against them are nothing short of outrageous.
The charges brought against Rodriguez and Hill include conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, carrying potential jail time of up to 20 years and five years respectively.
The language used in the press release to describe the alleged crimes is perplexing. Terms like “unlawfully combined multiple unique features” and “anonymous financial transactions valued at over $2 billion” raise serious questions about the understanding of technology behind the accusations.
Writing and releasing source code is a first amendment protected right. The idea that certain combinations of codes can be deemed unlawful is absurd and unconstitutional.
The press release also mischaracterizes the functions of Samourai’s server, falsely claiming involvement in the generation of Bitcoin addresses and transaction facilitation. This paints a misleading picture of how the platform operates and the level of control users have over their own transactions.
At the heart of the matter are features like Ricochet and Whirlpool, which are essential for privacy and security in the cryptocurrency space. It is ludicrous to suggest that self-spending Bitcoin or using coinjoin services constitutes money laundering.
The accusations against Samourai are not only inaccurate but also dangerous. By trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, authorities risk setting a harmful precedent that could stifle innovation and privacy in the cryptocurrency industry.
This case is a stark reminder of the importance of defending privacy, security, and individual rights in the face of overreaching government actions. It’s time to focus on the real issues at hand and stand up against unjust practices like this one.
