Samourai Wallet’s Co-Founder Appeals for Bitcoin Donations From Federal Prison
Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez published a public appeal from FPC Morgantown federal prison, asking Bitcoin (BTC) holders to donate to a wallet address tied to his familys mounting legal debt. Rodriguez wrote on X (Twitter) that he and his wife Lauren owe more than $2 million in legal fees. They also face a $250,000 court-imposed fine after his guilty plea to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Pardon Prospects Have Faded In his May 6 post, Rodriguez said he is five months into a 60-month sentence at the West Virginia camp. He surrendered to federal custody in December 2025. He had previously been released on a $1 million bond before sentencing. Hope for a presidential pardon stirred briefly during the Bitcoin 2026 conference but has since dimmed. President Trump had said in late 2025 he would consider a pardon. JUST IN: ???????? President Trump says he will consider a pardon for the CEO of privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai. “I‘ve heard about it, I’ll look at it. Lets take a look at it.” pic.twitter.com/WfpLPYOlfj — Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) December 15, 2025 Rodriguez now calls those prospects “very low.” “I am simply a federal prisoner without money, power, or influence, and I will serve my full sentence,” he lamented. $2 Million in Debt