CryptoQuant CEO, Ki Young Ju, has come to the defense of Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, who are currently facing federal charges related to money laundering. The charges allege that the founders were involved in a money laundering conspiracy through their wallet’s mixing service, which facilitated over $100 million in illicit transactions from dark web markets.
While critics argue that the founders should not be held accountable for users’ actions, authorities claim that Rodriguez and Hill designed a service that has facilitated $2 billion in money laundering since the wallet’s inception in 2015. The duo allegedly earned significant fees from their mixing services, which offered different features with varying pool fees.
The charges against Rodriguez and Hill include conspiracy to commit money laundering and operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, carrying maximum sentences of 20 and five years, respectively. The Department of Justice has presented evidence from tweets and private messages, alleging that the founders encouraged users to launder criminal proceeds through their mixer, which reportedly gained over 100,000 downloads.
In support of Samourai Wallet, Ki Young Ju argues that crypto mixing enhances privacy and should not be seen as inherently illegal. He draws an analogy, likening the situation to punishing the inventor of a knife instead of its user. This defense highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the responsibility of wallet providers for the actions of their users.