Bitget App
Trade smarter
Buy cryptoMarketsTradeFuturesEarnSquareMore
Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Bill Hill Receives 4-Year Prison Sentence for Bitcoin Mixing Operations

Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Bill Hill Receives 4-Year Prison Sentence for Bitcoin Mixing Operations

CryptonewslandCryptonewsland2025/11/20 15:15
By:by Wesley Munene
  • Bill Hill was sentenced to 4 years for running an unlicensed Bitcoin mixing tool, Samourai Wallet.
  • Hill’s autism diagnosis and age reduced his sentence from 5 years to 4 years.
  • Hill faces 3 years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and credit for time served in Portugal.

William Bill Hill, co-founder of the privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to four years in prison for his involvement in operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The 67-year-old Hill was convicted for his role in the creation of the Bitcoin mixing tool, which was reportedly used to launder over $237 million in criminal proceeds. This sentence follows his guilty plea in July for conspiracy to operate the illegal service.

Mitigating Factors in Hill’s Sentencing

The case of Hill has been ruled by District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York (SDNY), who has pronounced a lesser punishment, taking into account the defendant’s old age and recent diagnosis of autism. The judge recognized that Hill’s age and infirmity would be a great hardship for him to endure should he be imprisoned. Therefore, instead of the statutory maximum of five years, Hill got a sentence of four years.

🚨JUST IN: William Lonergan Hill, who co-founded the crypto mixing service Samourai Wallet, has been sentenced to 4 years for facilitating large-scale money laundering, according to U.S. authorities. pic.twitter.com/ZaEwW0nBMR

— The Crypto Times (@CryptoTimes_io) November 20, 2025

During the sentencing, Hill’s defense lawyer, Roger Burlingame, argued that Hill’s autism played a significant role in his actions. Burlingame described how Hill’s condition led him to view his work with Samourai Wallet as legally justified, emphasizing his “black-and-white” thinking style. Hill, according to the defense, believed his actions were lawful because the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) did not require non-custodial wallets to register as money transmitting businesses.

Hill’s Emotional Statement and Legal Context of the Case

During the sentencing hearing, Bill Hill was very sorry for what he had done. He said that at first he looked at it from the angle of freedom, but finally he was able to see that it was really his ego that had led him to such a course of action. Hill broke down crying as he mentioned the trial’s impact on his family, particularly on his wife, Sabrina.

As part of his sentence, Hill was also given a three-year supervised release, which he will serve while residing in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is living. Besides that, he has to pay a fine of $250,000. Hill can reduce his sentence by as much as 11 weeks by claiming the time he has already spent in a Portuguese prison.

Hill and his partner, Keonne Rodriguez, were the brains behind the creation of the Samourai Wallet, a tool that aimed at giving an extra layer of privacy to Bitcoin users. The tool was reportedly used to clean the money of millions of dollars, even though both accused maintained that they thought their actions were legal. A strong legal team notwithstanding, both Hill and Rodriguez had to plead guilty to the charge of running an unlicensed money transmitting business, which ultimately resulted in their convictions.

0

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

PoolX: Earn new token airdrops
Lock your assets and earn 10%+ APR
Lock now!

You may also like

XRP News Update: XRP ETF Buzz vs. Death Cross: Can the $1.75 Support Level Remain Intact?

- XRP faces critical junctures near $2.14 as Grayscale's spot ETF (GXRP) launch looms, with $1.75 support level pivotal for short-term stability. - A death cross pattern raises bearish concerns, suggesting potential 55% price drop to $1 if technical indicators fail to hold. - Institutional crypto products like Leverage Shares' 3x ETFs and 1inch's liquidity pools highlight growing institutional interest amid market volatility. - DeFi struggles with $12B idle capital while projects like Mutuum Finance aim to

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 08:44
XRP News Update: XRP ETF Buzz vs. Death Cross: Can the $1.75 Support Level Remain Intact?

Bitcoin Updates: Negative Derivatives Meet Optimistic Institutions as Bitcoin's Future Remains Uncertain

- Bitcoin fell below $85,500 amid bearish derivatives positioning, macroeconomic uncertainty, and dormant wallet sell pressure, with puts dominating calls at $85,000 strike price. - Institutional bulls like Michael Saylor's Strategy reported $2.8B Q3 profits from BTC holdings and pledged continued accumulation during the slump. - The Bitcoin for America Act proposes tax payments in BTC without capital gains liability, aiming to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and modernize U.S. finance. - Derivatives pl

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 08:44
Bitcoin Updates: Negative Derivatives Meet Optimistic Institutions as Bitcoin's Future Remains Uncertain

Bitcoin Experiences Sharp Decline as Macroeconomic Conditions Change: The Impact of Increasing Interest Rates and Heightened Regulatory Oversight on Cryptocurrency Values

- Bitcoin's 2025 late-year drop from $126,000 to $80,000 reflects heightened sensitivity to Fed policy shifts and regulatory pressures. - Fed officials like Susan Collins signaled "mildly restrictive" policy, crushing rate cut expectations and triggering 70% decline in December cut odds. - Regulatory crackdowns on crypto mixing and mining contrasted with institutional buying (e.g., Cardone Capital's $15. 3M Bitcoin purchase) amid market volatility. - Political uncertainty (60% expect Trump-era crypto gains

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 08:22

Bitcoin’s Abrupt Price Swings and Institutional Outflows: An In-Depth Analysis of Market Dynamics and Liquidity Challenges

- Institutional investors are shifting capital from Bitcoin to AI infrastructure, driven by higher returns in 2025. - Bitcoin's liquidity has declined, with order book depth dropping to $14M by mid-2025, exacerbating volatility. - Structural shifts, including mining repurposing and AI-focused capital flows, threaten Bitcoin's hash rate and market stability. - Alternative projects like XRP Tundra and AI-driven risks challenge Bitcoin's dominance, complicating investor strategies.

Bitget-RWA2025/11/23 08:22