Court documents reveal that Samourai Wallet’s founders, William Lonergan Hill and Keonne Rodriguez, will plead guilty to charges related to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges their Bitcoin mixing service was used by criminals for money laundering and sanctions evasion, processing over $2 billion in transactions. This case parallels the ongoing trial of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, signaling a broader crackdown on privacy-focused crypto tools. Privacy advocates argue the founders merely created software without directly handling illicit funds, but authorities maintain such services enable large-scale financial crime. The guilty plea marks a significant development in the legal battle over crypto anonymity tools.
about Samourai Wallet Founders to Plead Guilty in Money Laundering CaseRoman Semenov
0 posts last weekTornado Cash Trial: IRS Agent Testifies on Storm’s Fund Control
On the eighth day of the Tornado Cash co-founder trial, IRS Special Agent Stephan George testified that Roman Storm had control over funds connected to the crypto mixing service. Prosecutors presented transaction records from Binance and Crypto.com, suggesting Storm’s involvement in directing funds through Tornado Cash smart contracts. The case, which could set a precedent for crypto privacy tools, is nearing its conclusion as the prosecution prepares to rest.
about Tornado Cash Trial: IRS Agent Testifies on Storm's Fund ControlTornado Cash Co-Founder May Delay Trial Over Witness Dispute
Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, faces potential trial delays as his defense team contests the inclusion of testimony from an alleged hacker who used the Ethereum-based mixer. Prosecutors disclosed the witness after the deadline, prompting Storm’s lawyers to argue it could mislead jurors into associating him with the hack. The trial, set for July 14, charges Storm with money laundering and sanctions violations, with the crypto community rallying behind him. Another co-founder, Alexey Pertsev, was already sentenced in the Netherlands, while a third, Roman Semenov, remains at large. The case highlights the legal risks for DeFi developers and could influence future regulatory actions.
about Tornado Cash Co-Founder May Delay Trial Over Witness DisputeUS Court Overturns Tornado Cash Sanctions, Dismisses Case
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the Northern District of Florida’s 2023 ruling that upheld the Treasury’s sanctions against Tornado Cash, ordering the case to be dismissed. This decision concludes the Coin Center v. Yellen appeal, the final legal challenge to OFAC’s 2022 designation of the Ethereum privacy mixer. The Treasury’s delisting of Tornado Cash addresses in March 2024 rendered the case moot, leading both parties to request the dismissal. While the sanctions are lifted, Tornado Cash’s co-founders still face criminal charges in New York, and broader questions about developer liability for autonomous code remain unresolved. The protocol remains operational, but its regulatory status returns to a grey area.
about US Court Overturns Tornado Cash Sanctions, Dismisses CaseSamourai Wallet Case: Crypto Advocates Push for Dismissal
The U.S. government shut down Samourai Wallet, a Bitcoin mixing service, in 2024, arresting its developers for allegedly operating an unlicensed money transmitter. Crypto advocacy groups, including the Blockchain Association and Coin Center, filed amicus briefs arguing the case should be dismissed, as the developers merely provided software without controlling user funds—a stance supported by FinCEN’s 2019 guidance. The groups warn that prosecuting non-custodial tools could set a dangerous precedent for privacy and innovation in crypto. Meanwhile, the legal battle echoes past actions against Tornado Cash, another mixer accused of facilitating money laundering.
about Samourai Wallet Case: Crypto Advocates Push for DismissalTornado Cash: Privacy, Sanctions, and Decentralized Mixing
Tornado Cash is a non-custodial, decentralized crypto mixer launched in 2019 by Roman Storm and Roman Semenov on Ethereum. It employs smart contracts and zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to obscure transaction links between senders and receivers, ensuring privacy on public blockchains. Unlike centralized mixers, Tornado Cash operates entirely onchain, eliminating third-party control over funds. Despite its privacy benefits, the platform faced US sanctions due to alleged money laundering activities, though these were lifted in March 2025. The case highlights the tension between financial privacy and regulatory oversight in decentralized finance.
about Tornado Cash: Privacy, Sanctions, and Decentralized MixingUS Court Permanently Blocks OFAC’s Tornado Cash Sanctions
A U.S. district court has ruled that OFAC cannot reimpose sanctions on Tornado Cash, a crypto mixing service previously accused of laundering funds for North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Judge Robert Pitman issued a permanent injunction, citing OFAC’s lack of guarantee against future sanctions. The decision follows a Fifth Circuit Court reversal of OFAC’s 2022 sanctions, which targeted Tornado Cash’s smart contracts rather than specific entities. Despite OFAC’s removal of Tornado Cash from its sanctions list in March 2024, the court deemed the issue unresolved, prompting the injunction. Meanwhile, criminal cases against Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Roman Semenov continue, with the DeFi Education Fund advocating for reconsideration of charges to protect open-source development.
about US Court Permanently Blocks OFAC's Tornado Cash SanctionsDOJ May Drop Samourai Wallet Case Under Trump’s Crypto Policy
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is reconsidering its case against Samourai Wallet’s founders, Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, following a policy shift under President Trump’s administration. Prosecutors requested a 16-day extension to evaluate dropping charges, signaling a departure from previous crackdowns on crypto mixers. The DOJ has stated it will no longer target crypto exchanges, mixers, or cold wallet holders unless linked to fraud or hacks. This contrasts with earlier actions, such as the high-profile shutdown of Tornado Cash, which faced sanctions over alleged money laundering. The Treasury recently delisted Tornado Cash, and a federal court barred reimposing sanctions. Trump’s pro-crypto stance has led to dropped cases against multiple crypto firms, marking a significant shift in U.S. regulatory approach.
about DOJ May Drop Samourai Wallet Case Under Trump's Crypto PolicyDeFi Fund Urges White House to Drop Tornado Cash Charges
The DeFi Education Fund has petitioned the White House to drop charges against Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, calling the DOJ’s prosecution ‘lawless’ and a threat to open-source development. The group argues that holding developers liable for how others use their code contradicts FinCEN’s guidance and stifles innovation. The letter, signed by industry leaders, warns that such legal actions could drive crypto development out of the U.S. and urges the administration to restore legal clarity. The case follows a Texas court ruling that the Treasury overstepped in sanctioning Tornado Cash, adding fuel to the debate over regulatory overreach in crypto.
about DeFi Fund Urges White House to Drop Tornado Cash ChargesEthereum Foundation Supports Tornado Cash Developer’s Legal Defense with 1.25 Million Donation
The Ethereum Foundation has pledged $1.25 million to support Alexey Pertsev’s legal defense, emphasizing that “Privacy is normal, and writing code is not a crime.” Vitalik Buterin previously contributed 50 ETH to the defense fund for Pertsev and fellow Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm, who face serious legal challenges following their arrests related to the crypto mixing service. Pertsev was found guilty of money laundering and plans to appeal, while US prosecutors have charged Storm and another developer with multiple offenses.
about Ethereum Foundation Supports Tornado Cash Developer's Legal Defense with 1.25 Million Donation