Trump Open to Considering Pardon for Samourai Bitcoin App Developer

Published at 2025-12-15 22:30:08

The White House says President Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into a pardon petition for the developer behind Samourai, a widely used Bitcoin privacy tool, mere days before the developer is scheduled to begin a prison sentence. Officials did not detail the grounds for the request or signal how quickly the Justice Department might act, leaving the outcome uncertain as the reporting date approaches.

The case has drawn attention within the crypto community because it touches on broader questions about the legality of building privacy-enhancing software and the risks faced by developers. While the immediate market impact on BTC appears limited, a presidential pardon would be a high-profile precedent and could intensify debate over policy, enforcement discretion, and developers’ exposure to criminal liability.

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ECB chief economist Philip Lane warned political pressure on the Fed could raise U.S. term premiums and unsettle the dollar’s global role; investors are increasingly eyeing Bitcoin as a non-sovereign alternative.

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Published at 2026-01-18 16:30:09

Monero Falls 26% From Recent All-Time High

Privacy coin Monero (XMR) is trading about 26% below the all-time high it set last week, prompting questions about whether the recent rally has run its course.

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Texas, New Hampshire Lead U.S. Race to Put Bitcoin on State Balance Sheets

Texas and New Hampshire are among a growing number of U.S. states moving to add Bitcoin (BTC) to their balance sheets as Congress advances a federal crypto market structure bill. The actions signal rising state-level appetite for digital-asset exposure and could shape wider treasury practices.

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Published at 2026-01-17 15:45:05

Samson Mow Says 10x Bitcoin Target Is 'Conservative'

Jan3 CEO Samson Mow reiterated his strong long-term bullishness on Bitcoin, arguing that a 10x price target may be conservative and reigniting debate across the crypto community. His comments have drawn attention from traders, analysts, and investors weighing upside expectations against market risks.

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Published at 2026-01-17 09:30:09

Buterin: Don’t Sacrifice Ethereum’s Values for Mainstream Adoption

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warned the community against trading the protocol’s core values for broader adoption, urging stronger on-chain privacy, easier full-node operation, and dApps that avoid centralized infrastructure. His comments highlight tensions between usability, regulation, and decentralization.