Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of the privacy-focused Bitcoin app Samourai Wallet, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Prosecutors alleged that his platform facilitated over $237 million worth of illicit Bitcoin transactions, including funds from darknet markets and online scams. The case has drawn significant attention from the crypto community, highlighting the legal challenges surrounding cryptocurrency privacy tools. Rodriguez’s sentencing comes after years of investigation into his platform’s use for concealing criminal activity. Judge Denise Cote imposed the maximum sentence allowed under the charge, emphasizing that financial privacy cannot be used as a justification for hiding illegal transactions. The case has sparked debate on the balance between crypto privacy and legal accountability.