Background on Case Development
Federal prosecutors in the United States, alongside the creators of Samourai Wallet, have formally requested more time from the court regarding the ongoing case. This request comes amidst recent shifts in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) stance on cryptocurrency regulation.
Request for Extension
On April 28, the attorneys for Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO of Samourai Wallet, and Chief Technology Officer William Hill addressed a letter to Judge Richard Berman, asking for an extension of 16 days to file pretrial motions. This move follows a significant policy alteration communicated in a memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on April 7, leading to the disbanding of the DOJ’s cryptocurrency enforcement unit.
Defense Engagements
Prior to this request, the defense had engaged with Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton on April 10, advocating for the case’s dismissal based on the new guidelines. A meeting on April 24, 2025, between the defense team and prosecutors further explored the implications of this policy change. Within their correspondence to the court, the defense emphasized that the extension would help avoid high costs related to motion preparations while the DOJ reevaluates its position.
Charges and Pleadings
Rodriguez and Hill have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and running an unlicensed money transmitting operation, with their initial pleadings occurring in April 2024. Blanche’s memo indicated that the DOJ would no longer pursue enforcement cases against cryptocurrency unless they involved individuals exploiting investors or engaging in criminal acts with digital assets.
Implications of Timeline Adjustment
The current deadlines for motions in this case are set for May 13, with responses due by June 10 and further replies on June 24. Should the court approve the requested extension, these timelines would adjust to May 29 for the initial motions, June 26 for responses, and July 10 for replies. Importantly, this would not alter the scheduled trial date, which remains in early November.
Wider Trends in Cryptocurrency Regulation
This case reflects a more lenient approach towards the cryptocurrency sector that has emerged during Donald Trump’s presidency. Notably, on April 9, Braden John Karony, CEO of SafeMoon, referenced Blanche’s guidance in his plea to dismiss charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Additionally, on the same day as the extension request, the DeFi Education Fund urged the Biden administration to reconsider charges against Roman Storm, a co-founder of Tornado Cash, advocating against the previous government’s efforts to criminalize the development of open-source software.
