Samourai Wallet operators charged over crypto mixer operations

Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, founders of the Samourai Wallet, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The charges relate to their operation of a cryptocurrency mixer that the DOJ says helped to launder over $2 billion in unlawful transactions. $100 million of that, they say, was connected to dark web markets including Silk Road and Hydra Market. Indeed, Samourai had actively marketed its products to "Dark/Grey Market participants".

Rodriguez was arrested in the United States; the United States will seek extradition for Hill, who was arrested in Portugal.

Samourai Wallet advertised itself as "a bitcoin wallet made for the streets", which would "keep your transactions private, your identity masked, and your funds secure". It touted features including "remote self-destruct", and would hide itself from a phone's applications list. As charges were filed in the United States, the wallet's website began displaying a seizure notice that informed visitors of a coordinated law enforcement action by the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York, FBI, IRS, Europol, and Portuguese and Icelandic police. The app was also removed from the Google Play Store.