MAROKO133 Update crypto: Samourai Wallet Case: President Trump to Review Pardon for Founde

📌 MAROKO133 Update crypto: Samourai Wallet Case: President Trump to Review Pardon

President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to consider pardoning Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO of privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai. Rodriguez was sentenced to five years in federal prison last month for money laundering charges.

During an afternoon event in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump answered a reporter’s question that he is aware of the case and is open to exploring a potential pardon.

“I’ve heard about it, I’ll look at it,” he told the reporter. “Why you think it should be pardoned?”

“It sounds like, based on your question, Rodriguez. We’ll look at that, Pam. Okay,” the President said to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was also present during the session.

Samourai Dev Rodriguez Faces 5 Years Prison Charges

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) arrested Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, the CEO and CTO of Samourai Wallet on April 24. They each face one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The case was started under the Biden administration.

Last month, District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York (SDNY) handed down Rodriguez’s sentence to five years in prison.

Rodriguez was accused of creating a Bitcoin mixing service that was allegedly used to launder $237 million in dirty money. He had voluntarily pleaded guilty in July.

Rodriguez Responds to Trump’s Words

In response to Trump’s consideration on Monday, Rodriguez said, “This is a big step forward.”

“This President knows all about lawfare. He knows all about a weaponized Biden DOJ hunting down their political rivals. He knows the tactics and tricks they play. If he looks at our case closely it will be a case of deja vu, and I think he would do the right thing and grant us a pardon,” Rodriguez wrote on X.

Trump’s response comes four days before Rodriguez’s prison term begins.

Besides, the crypto community is buzzing with #pardonsamourai hashtags, seeking the signing of a petition to reach 100K signatures.

“Just as Ross Ulbricht was pardoned, Keonne must be forgiven, too,” wrote crypto entrepreneur Jesse Tevelow. “We cannot allow one of our own fellow Bitcoiners to spend time in jail for building a legitimate product that protects our Bitcoin and strengthens the network.”

President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who started Silk Road, a marketplace on the darknet. In October, Trump also pardoned Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the former head of Binance, concluding months of speculation over his legal fate. These cases mark a major shift in Washington’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation.

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📌 MAROKO133 Hot crypto: Texas Goes Full Crypto Mode as Bitcoin ATM Operator Eyes 2

Texas’ role as a center of U.S. crypto activity is set to expand further after Bitcoin Bancorp said it plans to deploy up to 200 licensed Bitcoin ATMs across the state beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

The state is adding to an already dense network of crypto kiosks operating under one of the country’s clearest regulatory frameworks.

Bitcoin Bancorp Enters Texas, Citing Clear Rules and Strong ATM Demand

Bitcoin Bancorp, which trades over the counter under the ticker BCBC, said the planned rollout would mark its entry into what it described as a strategically important market.

The company is one of only three publicly traded Bitcoin ATM network owners in the United States and says it holds foundational patents tied to Bitcoin ATM technology.

Eric Noveshen, a director at the firm, said agreements are already in place that could support faster revenue growth as the company moves from planning into execution.

Following the announcement, Bitcoin Bancorp shares rose 7.83% on the day and are up 29.53% over the past five days, reflecting increased investor confidence in the expansion strategy.

The expansion comes at a time when Texas already hosts more than 4,000 live crypto ATMs, the highest number of any U.S. state.

Large national operators, including Athena Bitcoin, Bitcoin Depot, Coinhub, Cryptobase, and Byte Federal, have established broad coverage across major cities such as Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.

The presence of this existing infrastructure has lowered barriers for new deployments and signaled sustained consumer demand for in-person crypto access.

Why Bitcoin ATM Operators Keep Flocking to Texas

Texas’ appeal to ATM operators largely stems from its regulatory structure. State law treats virtual currency as a form of money under the Texas Money Services Act, placing Bitcoin ATM operators within a familiar licensing regime overseen by the Texas Department of Banking.

Companies must obtain a money transmitter license, meet minimum net worth requirements of at least $500,000, post a surety bond of no less than $150,000, and submit to regular examinations.

Consumer protection has also become a growing focus. In Texas, state rules require Bitcoin ATM operators to clearly disclose fees, exchange rates, and complaint procedures.

Federal Scrutiny Intensifies Around Bitcoin ATMs

Oversight of Bitcoin ATMs in the United States is tightening at the federal level as regulators respond to rising fraud concerns and increased consumer use.

Currently at the federal level, Bitcoin ATM operators are classified as money services businesses under the Bank Secrecy Act, placing them under the supervision of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

This requires operators to maintain formal anti-money laundering programs, conduct customer identity verification, and monitor transactions for suspicious activity.

Identity checks typically scale with transaction size, ranging from basic phone verification for smaller amounts to government-issued identification and enhanced due diligence for larger transfers.

Operators are also required to file currency transaction reports for cash transactions exceeding $10,000, submit suspicious activity reports when necessary, and retain records for a minimum of five years.

At the same time, federal lawmakers are moving to further regulate the sector. Proposed legislation such as the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 shows a more focused concern over the role of crypto kiosks in scam-related losses nationwide.

What the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act Proposes

Introduced in the U.S. Senate as Bill S. 710, the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act of 2025, which has been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, is designed to reduce fraud risks while increasing transparency for consumers.

Key provisions of the bill include mandatory registration of virtual currency kiosks with the U.S. Treasury; also, operators are required to provide clear pre-transaction disclosures outlining terms, fees, and a warning that transactions are final and non-refundable.

The bill mandates prominent fraud warnings on kiosks, the issuance of physical receipts containing transaction details and fraud-reporting information, and the implementation of written anti-fraud policies submitted to FinCEN.

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