Privacy-Focused Bitcoin Wallet Founders Indicted for Money Laundering and Unlicensed Operations
- Samourai Wallet provided open-source code and transparent services.
- Despite compliance with laws, founders were indicted and assets seized.
- FinCEN guidelines show Samourai Wallet is not a money transmitter.
- Charges against Samourai Wallet founders are conspiracy charges.
- US government's strategic campaign against privacy impacts Bitcoin users.
- Support Samourai Wallet defense fund and spread awareness.
Summary :
Samourai Wallet, a privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet, has been transparent about its services, providing open-source code and explaining its public operations. However, the founders of Samourai Wallet have been indicted by the IRS-CI and FBI, and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Their servers and domain names have been seized, and the wallet has been taken down from the Google Play store. The founders argue that they have not acted as a money service business according to government guidelines, and that their code allows users to make transactions without the wallet holding any of their funds. The case raises concerns about privacy and the potential impact on Bitcoin users and other privacy-focused services.
Sources :
- Bitcoinmagazine
