Trump Open to Considering Pardon for Samourai Bitcoin App Developer
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.