The co-founders of Samourai Wallet and U.S. prosecutors have jointly requested a delay in pretrial proceedings as they consider dropping the case. The defense asked for a 16-day extension, citing ongoing discussions with the DOJ and high preparation costs.
The delay follows a major DOJ policy shift that ended its crypto enforcement task force and narrowed the scope of prosecution to clear criminal acts. The defense argues the case no longer aligns with the DOJ’s updated stance, which discourages targeting developers of privacy tools.
Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, charged with money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, have pleaded not guilty. A recent DOJ memo signaled a shift in crypto policy, stating the department won’t regulate digital assets and will focus only on criminal misuse.
The proposed delay would extend pretrial motion deadlines without affecting the November trial date. This case reflects a broader trend under the Trump administration favoring the crypto industry, with similar dismissal efforts seen in other cases like SafeMoon and Tornado Cash. The trial remains set for early November.
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