A Washington-based think tank along with key figures in the Bitcoin community, is advocating for a presidential pardon for the developers of Samourai Wallet. This initiative arises as the petition for their release has gathered over 3,200 signatures.

Rodriguez and Hill, the developers, are currently facing four and five years of imprisonment due to their plea deal involving conspiracy over operating an unlicensed money-transmitting service. They are expected to start serving their sentences in early January 2026 unless a presidential intervention is made.

Support for the pardon has been vocal among notable Bitcoin advocates, including veteran broadcaster Max Keiser and Bitcoin media entrepreneur Marty Bent.

Zack Shapiro from the Bitcoin Policy Institute argues that the case against the Samourai developers misapplies existing federal money-transmission laws to non-custodial software applications.

The Bitcoin Policy Institute has emphasized that a pardon would restore vital legal distinctions within the financial sector, asserting that publishing non-custodial software should not be deemed a criminal offense.

The movement to safeguard developers has also found broad support outside the Bitcoin community, with dissenting voices highlighting the discrepancy of high-profile pardons for individuals in significant financial scandals compared to those facing charges for open-source coding activities.