Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Shares Emotional Account of First Day in Prison
Keonne Rodriguez, the co-founder of Bitcoin privacy tool Samourai Wallet, has shared a personal and emotional account of his first day in a US federal prison. In a letter, Rodriguez described the intake process, which included searches, medical exams, and assignment to housing, marking the beginning of his five-year prison sentence.
Rodriguez’s Experience in Prison
Rodriguez described his first few days in prison as “manageable,” despite the difficulties of being incarcerated during the holiday season. He expressed gratitude for the respect and kindness shown by his fellow prisoners and looked forward to receiving his first visit from his wife on Christmas Day.
The timing of his incarceration forced his family to celebrate the holiday earlier, highlighting the personal cost of his conviction beyond the legal consequences. Rodriguez’s imprisonment has sparked a debate in the crypto community, with many arguing that his case raises questions about the criminal liability of open-source developers.
Concerns Over Developer Liability
Privacy advocates argue that Rodriguez’s case, along with the prosecution of Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, sets a dangerous precedent for developers building privacy-focused tools. They claim that writing and maintaining code cannot constitute a crime if third parties use that software for illegal purposes.
A petition calling for clemency for Rodriguez has garnered over 12,000 signatures, reflecting concerns among developers and digital rights advocates. The petition describes the case as “a chilling attack on free expression and innovation” and warns that it could hinder open-source development in the United States.
Call for Clemency and Presidential Review
A growing clemency campaign has led to President Donald Trump announcing that he would review Rodriguez’s case. Trump stated that he had heard about the case and would “take a look at it,” although he admitted to being unfamiliar with the details.
Rodriguez has publicly appealed to Trump for a pardon, calling his prosecution an example of “lawfare” under the previous administration. He argued that there were no direct victims in his case and accused regulators and judges of targeting him as part of a broader anti-innovation offensive.
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