Bitcoin ETFs, MicroStrategy, whales spur 3X jump in private BTC txs: Analyst

December 27, 2024 Coin Telegraph

CryptoQuant’s CEO Ki Young Ju dismissed the idea that private CoinJoin transactions are mostly used by hackers to launder stolen funds.

Private Bitcoin transactions — using a process called CoinJoin — has tripled since 2022 as a result of huge Bitcoin accumulators accelerating their purchases of Bitcoin, according to CryptoQuant.

These Bitcoin whale addresses are primarily linked to spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds, MicroStrategy and custodial wallets, according to CryptoQuant’s Ki Young Ju, who explained that whales “frequently use privacy transactions” to transfer their funds to new institutional investors in a Dec. 26 X post.

CoinJoin transactions pool inputs and outputs from several parties in a way that obfuscates who might own an unspent transaction output.

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Samourai Wallet forked into ‘Ashigaru’ Open Source Project

September 22, 2024 Coin Telegraph

Ashigaru

According to the website, Ashigaru uses CoinJoin and other mechanisms to shield users from analytical heuristics and tracking.

On Sept. 20, a mysterious group of developers announced they performed a hard fork of the Samourai Wallet code and released the first version of a mobile wallet building upon the Samourai team's work under the new "Ashigaru Open Source Project."

The project's website states that Ashigaru "develops, releases, and maintains free and open-source software" and promises to develop solutions with a low technical barrier to entry while keeping users secure, shielded from counter-party risk, and private — fully maximizing censorship resistance.

Source: Burn The Bridge.

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Ashigaru Emerges From the Shadows, Forking Samourai Wallet in Privacy Push

September 22, 2024 Bitcoin.com

Ashigaru

After the fall of Samourai Wallet’s founders, a new platform emerged from a mysterious group who forked the project, naming it the Ashigaru Open Source Project. The team behind Ashigaru has shared their vision, stating, “Anyone should be able to engage in peaceful, voluntary and private commerce on the internet without tracking, surveillance or censorship.” […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

The Bitcoin Policy Institute Launches the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund to Help Defend Samourai Wallet Founders

May 22, 2024 Bitcoin.com

Bitcoin

The Bitcoin Policy Institute, a non-profit organization supporting bitcoin initiatives, has launched the Peer-to-Peer Rights Fund, a project seeking to protect bitcoin’s decentralized nature from regulatory overreach. The fund’s first objective is to aid in the defense of the founders of Samourai Wallet given the relevance of the case for the industry. Peer-to-Peer Rights Funds […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Snowden Issues ‘Final Warning’ to Bitcoin Developers on Privacy Enhancements

May 4, 2024 Bitcoin.com

bitcoin.com

In the wake of the U.S. intensifying its clampdown on privacy-oriented software and Zksnacks closing its coordinated coinjoin service, Edward Snowden, the NSA whistleblower and former contractor, has issued a stern warning to Bitcoin developers. Snowden emphasizes that time is running out for enhancing privacy and insists it must be integrated at the protocol level. […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

US senators, FBI aren’t opposed to crypto privacy: Railgun contributor

May 3, 2024 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

Ethereum privacy protocol Railgun contributor Alan Scott Jr. says U.S. regulators and government agencies don’t get enough credit for genuinely “trying to understand” crypto.

United States senators and intelligence agencies may not be as opposed to privacy-focused crypto protocols as some believe, according to Railgun researcher and advocate Alan Scott Jr.

Speaking to Cointelegraph at ETH Global in Sydney on May 2, Scott — a contributor and public advocate for Railgun — said based on conversations he’s had with senators and the FBI in Washington D.C., he hasn’t seen any hints of a crypto privacy crusade on Capitol Hill.

There are many people in the upper echelons of government who are “generally smart, want to do right, and protect people,” he said.

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Zksnacks to Cease Coinjoin Transactions, Affecting Wasabi, Trezor and Btcpay

May 2, 2024 Bitcoin.com

bitcoin.com

On Thursday, Zksnacks, the developer behind Wasabi Wallet, announced its decision to cease its coinjoin services following regulatory measures in the U.S. The company stated that the wallet will now operate as a standard non-custodial bitcoin wallet without the coinjoin feature. Zksnacks Withdraws Coinjoin Feature from Wasabi Wallet Following intensified regulatory scrutiny in the U.S., […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Coin Center Warns of DOJ Overreach in Tornado Cash, Samourai Wallet Cases

April 30, 2024 Bitcoin.com

bitcoin.com

The recent actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against non-custodial crypto wallet developers have sparked controversy and concern within the cryptocurrency community. According to Coin Center, these charges mark a significant shift from previous U.S. policies regarding money transmission, potentially impacting the liberty and privacy rights of developers and users alike. Coin Center: DOJ […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Keonne Rodriguez Pleads Not Guilty, Released on $1M Bail

April 30, 2024 Bitcoin.com

Samourai Wallet Co-Founder Keonne Rodriguez Pleads Not Guilty, Released on M Bail

Bitcoin Mixer

On Monday, April 29, Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of the non-custodial bitcoin wallet Samourai, entered a plea of not guilty to accusations of operating a money transmitter and engaging in money laundering. Rodriguez secured his release by posting a $1 million bail and will be confined to his residence in Harmony, Pennsylvania, with his movements monitored […]

Crypto projects need more visionary funding for long-term growth

Samourai Wallet co-founder pleads not guilty, released on $1M bond

April 29, 2024 Coin Telegraph

Samourai Wallet co-founder pleads not guilty, released on M bond

Coin Telegraph

The terms of Keonne Rodriguez’s bail prevent him from engaging in “any cryptocurrency transactions, directly or indirectly,” without prior approval from the court.

Keonne Rodriguez, one of two individuals associated with cryptocurrency mixer Samourai Wallet who the United States Justice Department charged with money laundering, has pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

In an April 29 appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business and money laundering. Assistant U.S. Attorneys agreed to a $1 million bond for the Samourai Wallet co-founder, with travel restricted to parts of New York and Pennsylvania when not confined to his home.

Rodriguez will be largely confined to his residence in Harmony, Pennsylvania and required to wear a location monitoring device. In addition, the terms of his bail prevent him from performing services for Samourai Wallet or engaging in “any cryptocurrency transactions, directly or indirectly” without prior approval.

samourai wallet