An unexpected event has shaken the US crypto community: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering dropping the Samourai Wallet case, a Bitcoin mixer app previously regarded as a 'digital money laundering tool'. In the context of the new administration of President Donald Trump showing a friendlier stance towards the cryptocurrency industry, this case could mark a major turning point for the privacy and legality of blockchain applications in the US.
What is Samourai Wallet and why is it being prosecuted?
Samourai Wallet is a Bitcoin wallet integrated with coin mixing services – allowing users to anonymize the source of transactions, making it harder to trace. However, this very aspect makes it a target for law enforcement.
In April 2024, the founders of Samourai Wallet – Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill – were arrested. The US government accused this application of helping users conceal illegal activities, leading to the seizure of the website and the suspension of services.
However, unlike the high-profile Tornado Cash case – a mixing service accused of laundering over $1 billion in dirty money – the Samourai case seems to have received less public and media attention.
Opportunity to turn the tide: The Trump administration and 'looser' policy.
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, many changes in legal policy related to crypto have begun to take place:
#DOJ dissolve the task force specializing in cryptocurrency crime.
Promise not to prosecute crypto services like cold wallets, mixers, or exchanges, unless there are signs of fraud, embezzlement, rug pull, or hacking.
This has opened up new hope for the founders of Samourai Wallet, as they argue that their operational model does not violate criminal law in the absence of specific fraudulent behavior.
Letter of petition to the court: Last chance for DOJ to withdraw?
According to the latest information, the lawyers for Rodriguez and Hill have sent a letter requesting the court to extend the deadline by 16 days, pending DOJ's consideration of withdrawing the case.
This is not a unilateral action – but a joint proposal from both the defense attorney and the prosecution, showing a positive sign that the case could actually be dismissed.
The DOJ's consideration of changing its stance, especially as the Trump administration has many crypto supporters in the cabinet and is backed by Silicon Valley giants, indicates a clear reversal in US crypto policy.
Tornado Cash: Important lessons and precedents.
To understand the situation of Samourai Wallet, one cannot overlook the Tornado Cash case, which had previously stirred the entire Web3 and crypto community:
In 2022, the US Treasury banned citizens from using #TornadoCash , claiming it was exploited by criminals for money laundering.
Two founders, Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, are charged with laundering over $1 billion.
Coinbase – the largest exchange in the US – is funding the lawsuit against the sanctions, arguing that it violates civil liberties.
The result is:
Last month, Tornado Cash was removed from the sanctions list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
A federal court ordered OFAC to refrain from re-imposing sanctions on Tornado Cash.
This is not only a legal victory for Tornado Cash, but also creates a strong precedent to protect blockchain projects with anonymity, of which Samourai Wallet may be the next beneficiary.
Impact on the crypto market and Binance users.
If the Samourai Wallet case is dismissed, it will be a clear signal that the US under President Trump is more open to the crypto industry – especially projects focusing on privacy and decentralization.
This could lead to:
Increased trust from Web3 developers, especially with DeFi applications, mixers, and self-custody wallets.
Increase in the value and legitimacy of legal mixing services, if operated transparently.
Open up opportunities to develop more privacy-protecting products, which are being closely monitored by many governments.
For Binance users, this move suggests that the US market may reduce its level of legal risk, thereby increasing resilience and expanding services in the world's largest market.
Conclusion: Are mixers no longer the 'scapegoat'?
From being viewed as a money laundering tool, services like Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash are gradually being re-evaluated through the lens of privacy and personal freedom – especially in the context of increasing advocacy for Web3 technology from both the community and policymakers.
The Trump administration's shift away from prioritizing crypto sanctions, alongside the dismissal of symbolic cases like Tornado Cash, is opening a 'warming' period between blockchain and US law.
If the Samourai Wallet case is officially dismissed, it will be a significant milestone in the process of legitimizing and protecting privacy in the crypto space – a trend worth watching in 2025 and beyond.
Note: The cryptocurrency market always carries legal and financial risks. Decisions related to investment, development, or use of blockchain services need to be carefully considered, in accordance with regulations in each country.