Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Seeks Donations to Cover More Than $2 Million in Legal Fees

Samourai Wallet uses Whirlpool and Ricochet to enhance the privacy of Bitcoin transactions. The U.S. Department of Justice began prosecuting co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill in April 2024. Both later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The case has fueled debate over whether developers of open-source privacy tools should face criminal liability for users’ conduct.

The latest appeal for help appeared on X on May 6, 2026. Rodriguez said the litigation had exhausted the resources of him and his wife, leaving them with more than $2 million in legal fees as well as a court-imposed $250,000 fine. Rodriguez and Hill were sentenced on November 19, 2025, to five years and four years in prison, respectively, and are now seeking donations from the crypto community to repay the debt.