美國司法部歷史性打擊行動：Samourai Wallet 創辦人被控大規模洗錢案

美國司法部 (DOJ) 起訴流行的加密貨幣混合服務 Samourai Wallet 的創始人合謀洗錢和經營未經許可的匯款業務。這些指控引發了人們對金融隱私監管攻擊的擔憂，因為加密貨幣混合器提供了顯著的隱私優勢，同時也容易被濫用於非法活動。美國司法部的打擊行動導致 Samourai Wallet 的伺服器被查封，其應用程式從 Google Play 商店下架，並逮捕了其創始人，引發了關於平衡隱私和打擊金融犯罪的爭論。

Samourai Wallet Founders Face Criminal Charges in Landmark DOJ Crackdown, Sparking Debate on Financial Privacy

Samourai 錢包創始人在司法部里程碑式的打擊行動中面臨刑事指控，引發有關金融隱私的爭論

In a sweeping move that has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency industry, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed criminal charges against Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, the Chief Executive and Technology Officers of renowned crypto mixer Samourai Wallet. The indictment alleges that the platform facilitated over $100 million in money laundering transactions linked to dark web marketplaces, totaling a staggering $1.7 billion throughout its decade-long operation.

美國司法部 (DOJ) 對著名加密貨幣混合器 Samourai Wallet 的執行長兼技術官 Keonne Rodriguez 和 William Lonergan Hill 提起刑事指控，此舉震驚了加密貨幣產業。起訴書稱，該平台促進了與暗網市場相關的超過 1 億美元的洗錢交易，在其長達 10 年的營運中總計達到驚人的 17 億美元。

Samourai Wallet: The "Safe Haven" for Criminal Activity?

Samourai 錢包：犯罪活動的「避風港」？

Central to the DOJ's charges is the assertion that Samourai Wallet's key features, 'Ricochet' and 'Whirlpool,' were specifically designed to aid criminals in concealing the origin of their illicit proceeds. Prosecutors contend that since their launch in 2017 and 2019, respectively, over 80,000 BTC, valued at over $2 billion, have been laundered through the platform, earning Samourai an estimated $4.5 million in the process.

美國司法部指控的核心內容是，Samourai 錢包的主要功能「Ricochet」和「Whirlpool」是專門為幫助犯罪分子隱藏其非法收益的來源而設計的。檢察官稱，自 2017 年和 2019 年分別推出以來，已有超過 8 萬枚比特幣（價值超過 20 億美元）透過該平台進行洗錢，Samourai 在此過程中估計獲利 450 萬美元。

Evidence of Criminal Intent

犯罪意圖的證據

The indictment draws attention to social media posts and communications by Samourai Wallet's founders, which prosecutors argue provide compelling evidence of the mixer's criminal intent. In a damning post on the protocol's official Twitter account dating back to June 2023, co-founder Hill allegedly boasted about the platform's ability to "shit in [their] pants" despite being flagged by Europol as a major threat to law enforcement's ability to trace illicit funds.

起訴書引起了人們對 Samourai Wallet 創始人社交媒體貼文和通訊的關注，檢察官認為這些貼文和通訊提供了混合者犯罪意圖的令人信服的證據。據稱，聯合創始人Hill 在2023 年6 月在該協議官方Twitter 帳戶上發表的一篇譴責性帖子中吹噓該平台有能力“拉屎在他們的褲子裡”，儘管歐洲刑警組織將其標記為對執法部門追蹤能力的重大威脅非法資金。

Government Overreach or Defense of Privacy?

政府越權還是保護隱私？

The DOJ's crackdown on Samourai Wallet has ignited a heated debate regarding the appropriate balance between financial privacy and law enforcement's need to combat illicit activity. While some commentators have denounced the charges as an excessive overreach by the government, others argue that the misuse of crypto mixers by malicious actors has become a major concern that requires strong legal action.

美國司法部對 Samourai Wallet 的打擊引發了一場關於金融隱私和執法部門打擊非法活動之間適當平衡的激烈辯論。儘管一些評論員譴責這些指控是政府的過度行為，但其他人則認為，惡意行為者濫用加密貨幣混合器已成為一個主要問題，需要採取強有力的法律行動。

Prominent Advocates Express Concern

知名倡議者表達擔憂

Renowned pro-privacy advocate Edward Snowden has joined the chorus of critics, asserting that the charges against Samourai Wallet's executives are part of an ongoing pattern of targeting developers and facilitators of financial privacy. "The way to fix this is to make money private by default. Privacy must never be 'exceptional," he stated.

著名的隱私權倡導者愛德華·斯諾登 (Edward Snowden) 也加入了批評者行列，聲稱對 Samourai Wallet 高層的指控是針對金融隱私開發商和服務商的持續模式的一部分。 “解決這個問題的方法是默認將錢私有化。隱私永遠不能是‘例外’，”他說。

Legal Consequences and Industry Implications

法律後果和行業影響

Rodriguez and Hill face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. The legal battle is expected to be a drawn-out and complex one, with potential ramifications for the entire cryptocurrency industry. If Samourai Wallet is convicted, it could effectively spell the end of its operations.

如果罪名成立，羅德里格斯和希爾將面臨最高 25 年的監禁。這場法律戰預計將是一場曠日持久且複雜的戰鬥，可能會對整個加密貨幣產業產生潛在影響。如果 Samourai Wallet 被定罪，它實際上可能意味著其運營的結束。

Ongoing Regulatory Cleanse

持續的監管清理

The DOJ's action against Samourai Wallet is part of a broader regulatory crackdown on the cryptocurrency industry. Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, is facing criminal charges for alleged anti-money laundering violations. Additionally, regulatory authorities worldwide are taking steps to tighten oversight of crypto assets, with a focus on preventing their use for illegal activities.

美國司法部針對 Samourai Wallet 採取的行動是對加密貨幣產業更廣泛監管打擊的一部分。全球最大的加密貨幣交易所幣安因涉嫌違反反洗錢規定而面臨刑事指控。此外，世界各地的監管機構正在採取措施加強對加密資產的監管，重點是防止其用於非法活動。

Conclusion

結論

The DOJ's indictment of Samourai Wallet's founders is a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency industry, raising fundamental questions about the appropriate balance between financial privacy and law enforcement's need to combat illicit activity. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome will have significant implications for the future of crypto mixers and the broader regulatory landscape of digital assets.

美國司法部對 Samourai Wallet 創辦人的起訴是加密貨幣產業的分水嶺，引發了有關金融隱私與執法部門打擊非法活動之間適當平衡的基本問題。隨著法律戰的展開，結果將對加密貨幣混合器的未來和更廣泛的數位資產監管環境產生重大影響。