Episode notes
In this episode of Coin Stories, Natalie Brunell sits down with Keonne Rodriguez, CEO of Samourai Wallet, for a wide-ranging — and tough — conversation ahead of Keonne beginning a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to operate a money transmitting business while knowing the business transmitted criminal proceeds.
Natalie asks Keonne on the government's case, including prosecutors' claims that Samourai's coin-mixing tools amounted to "money laundering," and allegations that he encouraged criminals to use the platform. Keonne responds with his philosophical and practical defense of financial privacy, the distinction between self-custody and the traditional banking system, and what's at stake if privacy tools are effectively outlawed. We discuss:
- Why financial privacy is a human right — and where the line is drawn
- Bitcoin self-custody vs surveillance finance
- What coin mixing is, and why prosecutors call it "money laundering"
- The allegations that Samourai facilitated or encouraged illicit activity
- What the loss of privacy means for freedom in a digital world
- Petition: https://www.change.org/p/stand-up-for-freedom-pardon-the-innocent-coders-jailed-for-building-privacy-tools
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