The founders of Samourai Wallet, a cryptocurrency mixing service, have pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and facilitating the laundering of over $200 million for criminals. Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO, and William Lonergan Hill, the CTO, admitted their roles in providing a platform that enabled users to transfer illicit proceeds, effectively “washing” illegal funds and obscuring transaction origins.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Samourai Wallet’s features—including its well-known Whirlpool and Ricochet services—were specifically designed to hinder the tracing of Bitcoin transactions. Authorities allege that, in total, the platform processed over $2 billion in Bitcoin, with more than $100 million linked to notorious dark web markets such as Silk Road.
Under the terms of their plea agreement, Rodriguez and Hill have avoided more severe money laundering conspiracy charges, which could have carried a 20-year federal prison sentence or more. Instead, they now face a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. Conditions of the agreement include forfeiture of approximately $237 million and payment of a $400,000 fine.
At present, both Rodriguez and Hill remain under house arrest. Hill is restricted to staying within New York pending sentencing, which is scheduled for November 6, 2025.
