Regulation
Samourai Wallet co-founder released on $1M bond after pleading not guilty
- Samourai Wallet founders have been charged with money laundering and operating an unlicensed business.
- Keonne Rodriguez, one of the co-founders, was released on a $1M bond after pleading not guilty in NYC court.
- The legal proceedings raise concerns about the future of non-custodial crypto services in the U.S.
During an appearance at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, Samourai Wallet co-founder Keonne Rodriguez entered a plea of not guilty to the charges brought against him and his associate William Hill and an assistant U.S. Attorneys agreed to the $1 million bond, with travel restrictions.
The lawsuit against Rodriguez and his associate William Hill alleges that Samourai Wallet facilitated over $100 million in money laundering transactions from illegal dark web markets. The two were arrested on April 24 in different jurisdictions.
Keonne Rodriguez’s bail terms
Despite being released on a $1 million bond, Rodriguez was restricted to only travel to certain areas of New York and Pennsylvania. He will be confined to his residence in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and required to wear a location monitoring device.
Additionally, Rodriguez is prohibited from engaging in any cryptocurrency transactions without prior approval from the court.
Rodriguez’s case is scheduled to proceed in the Southern District Court of New York, with Rodriguez set to appear again on May 14 with the involvement of Judge Richard M. Berman, known for presiding over high-profile cases, adding to the weight of the proceedings.
The outcome of the legal proceedings against could have far-reaching implications for the cryptocurrency industry.
William Hill, the co-accused and chief technology officer of Samourai Wallet, despite being arrested on the same day as Rodriguez has not yet been presented in a any U.S. courtroom. This could be because of Hill having been arrested in Portugal meaning authorities are possibly working through extradition proceedings.
Implications of the Samourai Wallet legal proceedings
The arrests and subsequent legal proceedings against Rodriguez and Hill have sparked debates regarding the definition of non-custodial wallets as money service businesses.
The allegations of Samourai Wallet facilitating money laundering transactions from illegal dark web markets raise questions about the broader implications for self-custodial tools in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
As reported earlier, Self-custodial crypto wallets like Wasabi Wallet and Phoenix have gone ahead to restrict U.S. users fearing legal proceedings following the arrest and prosecution of the Samourai Wallet founders and a possible Metamask investigation.
The case challenges the interpretation of guidelines issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regarding money transmission services with the Department of Justice (DOJ) arguing that the operation of Samourai Wallet’s services, including the broadcasting of transactions and collection of fees, falls within the scope of a money service business.
The indictment also raises concerns about potential efforts to KYC (Know Your Customer) the Bitcoin network, with implications for miners, node operators, and other entities involved in cryptocurrency transactions.
The FBI has already issued a public service announcement urging caution regarding cryptocurrency money service businesses that do not require KYC information.
Ripple has dropped its cross-appeal against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the latter’s decision to drop its case against the crypto firm last week. The firm’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Stuart Alderoty, also revealed what will happen with the $125 million penalty the Court awarded against them.
Ripple Drops Cross Appeal Against The US SEC
In an X post, Ripple’s CLO, Stuart Alderoty, revealed that his firm has now agreed to drop its cross-appeal against the US SEC after the Commission decided to drop the appeal without conditions.
This development officially ends the long-running legal battle between the crypto firm and the SEC, as the latter has also agreed to drop the Ripple lawsuit in its entirety.
Alderoty also revealed what will happen to the monetary judgment, which Judge Analisa Torres awarded against the crypto firm. He stated that the Commission will keep $50 million of the $125 million fine, which is already in an interest-bearing escrow in cash, while Ripple will collect the balance of $75 million.
Meanwhile, the US SEC will ask the Court to lift the standard injunction it imposed against the crypto firm at the Commission’s request. This move is subject to the Commission vote, the drafting of final documents, and routine court processes.
Significance Of This Development
Besides ending the Ripple lawsuit, the SEC’s agreement to request that the Court drop the standard injunction against the crypto firm paves the way for a surge in XRP’s adoption since the company can now proceed to carry on its on-demand liquidity (ODL) sales as usual.
Legal experts had predicted that Ripple was holding out on settlement to get the Commission to lower the fine and request the Court to drop the injunction. As such, these developments undoubtedly represent a massive victory for the firm.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently discussed the company’s future. He predicted that their US operations would grow in the coming months following the end of the lawsuit and thanks to imminent crypto legislation.
Boluwatife Adeyemi
Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across several topics and niches. Boluwatife has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making it easy for crypto newbies to understand. Away from writing, He is an avid basketball lover, a traveler and a part-time degen.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Regulation
Brad Garlinghouse Discusses Ripple’s Future, Crypto Legislation & Blockchain Technology As Lawsuit Ends
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently discussed what is next for his firm and how crypto legislation could also positively impact the crypto industry’s trajectory and the future of blockchain technology. This comes just days after the US SEC agreed to drop the long-running Ripple lawsuit.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Reveals What As SEC Drops Lawsuit
In a FOX Business interview, Brad Garlinghouse discussed what next for his firm following the SEC’s decision to drop the Ripple lawsuit. He noted that about 95% of the company’s customers are overseas, as the lawsuit hindered their US operations.
However, he suggested that will likely change moving forward as they grow their operations in the country. Garlinghouse remarked that they have already been witnessing domestic interest since US President Donald Trump took office. The Ripple CEO revealed they have signed more deals since then than in the six months preceding Trump’s inauguration.
The company is expected to grow further in the US after the SEC agreed to drop the Ripple lawsuit. Brad Garlinghouse predicts that his firm’s innovative technology will play out over the next ten to twenty years in terms of how it integrates and rewires the US financial structure in terms of payments, real estate, and securities transactions.
The Ripple CEO again took time to highlight how Trump’s crypto-related executive orders, especially the creation of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile, have created a more friendly environment for crypto firms in the US.
He noted that financial institutions are now more open to crypto technology. As CoinGape reported, the OCC has cleared Federal Banks to engage in crypto activities.
On Stablecoin Legislation & Its Impact
Brad Garlinghouse commended the efforts of legislators like Senator Cynthia Lummis and Rep French Hill to provide regulatory clarity. These lawmakers are championing the market structure and stablecoin bills to create a regulatory framework that will guide crypto firms. Senator Lummis also recently reintroduced the Bitcoin Act to codify Trump’s vision of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The Ripple CEO welcomed the idea of regulatory clarity, stating that it would reassure customers that they can engage with them in good faith. He remarked that these customers would feel more comfortable using their technologies without fear of regulators attacking them. Garlinghouse added that this would also enable more job creation, innovation, and capital formation in the US.
Boluwatife Adeyemi
Boluwatife Adeyemi is a well-experienced crypto news writer and editor who has covered topics that cut across several topics and niches. Boluwatife has a knack for simplifying the most technical concepts and making it easy for crypto newbies to understand. Away from writing, He is an avid basketball lover, a traveler and a part-time degen.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
A change of guard at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is powering a shift away from cryptocurrency enforcement. Under new leadership, the US SEC is narrowing its focus on traditional securities cases driven by a handful of factors.
US SEC Turns Its Gaze Away From Crypto Enforcement
According to a Reuters report, the US SEC is bringing down the curtain on its five-year rampage against the cryptocurrency industry. Going forward, the Commission will focus its resources on traditional cases involving corporate and individual securities fraud.
The SEC’s interim Enforcement Director Sam Waldon revealed that the Commission will give priority to individual cases. During the Gary Gensler administration, the SEC directed the bulk of its resources toward crypto enforcement against industry giants.
With Gensler out of the picture and new brass coming on board, the SEC is changing its stance. Paul Atkins is set to face a nomination hearing at Capitol Hill this week, signaling a breath of fresh air for the Commission.
For starters, a string of case dismissals against cryptocurrency companies, particularly the Ripple SEC case, accentuates a change in strategy. Furthermore, declarations that memecoins are not securities and exempting Proof-of-Work mining from securities obligations underscores the point.
Securities Watchdog Does Not Have The Numbers To Sustain Crypto Enforcement
Apart from new leadership, a key factor in the Commission’s changing stance lies in its dwindling staff strength. The SEC is recovering from a gale of exodus following plans by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to reduce the government’s workforce.
“Creativity is probably not where we want to be,” said Waldon, hinting at a steep drop in employee numbers.
A restructuring of the defunct Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit and the launch of a Crypto Task Force signals a change in direction. The Crypto Task Force is pursuing roundtables with ecosystem players rather than regulation by enforcement that characterized the SEC.
The SEC has to respond to a FOIA request filed by Coinbase seeking clarity over the financial implications of its five-year enforcement over the cryptocurrency industry.
Aliyu Pokima
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
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