DOJ Charges Samourai Wallet Developers Over Privacy Tools Whirlpool and Ricochet

The arrest of the developers behind Samourai Wallet, a platform offering noncustodial cryptocurrency services, has sparked widespread concern and debate over privacy rights and government overreach in the tech industry. The U.S. Department of Justice has charged the team with operating as an unregistered money service business under 31 C.F.R. 1010.100(ff)(5), citing the wallet's features like Whirlpool and Ricochet, which are designed to enhance user privacy by obfuscating transaction details. Critics argue that these charges are an attack on the fundamental right to privacy and free speech, comparing the case to previous controversies involving Tornado Cash and the Ross Ulbricht trial. The crypto community, including the Bitcoin Ordinals community and advocates for the freedom to transact, has rallied around Samourai Wallet, questioning the DOJ's interpretation of the law and its implications for future privacy technologies. Additionally, a fundraising initiative using PRIVACY•IS•A•RIGHT runes has been launched to support the defense.