Crypto advocacy groups are rallying against the case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against the developers of Samourai Wallet, a Bitcoin mixing service. The charges claim the wallet operated as an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Organizations like the Blockchain Association and Coin Center argue the developers merely created software without controlling user funds, therefore it doesn't meet the criteria to be categorized as money transmitters. They maintain that privacy in financial transactions is a fundamental norm, similar to cash transactions in daily life. In a recent development, a judge denied the amicus curiae briefs from these advocacy groups, emphasizing the significance of this case for the entire cryptocurrency industry. The developers of Samourai Wallet were arrested in April 2024, and the case has drawn parallels to previous legal actions, such as those taken against Tornado Cash, highlighting ongoing tensions over crypto regulation and privacy rights. The advocates are urging for the dismissal of the case, claiming that prosecuting software developers undermines legitimate innovations in the blockchain space.

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