Trump Says Fight Against Crypto Ended but Devs Still Face Charges

President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared that the war on cryptocurrency has ended under his leadership, highlighting policies that support crypto assets and institutional involvement. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are now widely available, major firms like BlackRock and Fidelity offer regulated products, and talks of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve have gained traction. His pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao further signals official acceptance of compliant, centralized platforms.

This warmer regulatory climate stands in sharp contrast to the aggressive actions of the previous Biden administration, when exchanges were raided, developers faced intense scrutiny, and advocates were silenced. Centralized services that incorporate surveillance and cooperation with authorities now seem to operate with a bit more freedom. Yet, for those who built cryptocurrency to prioritize privacy and decentralization, which is the entire purpose of it, the fight appears far from over.

Selective Acceptance Leaves Crypto Pioneers Vulnerable

The pardon of Changpeng Zhao illustrates the boundaries of the new tolerance. Binance operates with full KYC requirements, custodial control, and active collaboration with regulators, making it a model that fits within existing financial oversight. In addition, the ties between CZ investments and businesses and Trump including World Liberty Financial, have drawn scrutiny. It appears that platforms that align with traditional banking structures receive approval and integration into the mainstream system, especially if they play nicely with Trump.

In contrast, developers creating tools for genuine privacy and censorship resistance continue to face severe prosecutions. Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, has been convicted for releasing open-source code that enabled private transactions for legitimate purposes. The software was a neutral protocol used by millions, yet authorities charged him with facilitating money laundering despite no direct involvement in criminal acts.

Ian Freeman is currently serving an eight-year sentence for running a peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange that allowed individuals to bypass banks. His operation involved voluntary sales with no victims or fraud alleged, but prosecutors successfully framed it as unlicensed money transmission. The case underscores how direct, non-custodial trading remains a target.

Roman Sterlingov remains imprisoned after conviction tied to operating a privacy mixing service, with the case resting heavily on contested blockchain tracing techniques. Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, founders of Samourai Wallet, received five-year and four-year sentences respectively for building a non-custodial wallet focused on transaction privacy. Their tool never held user funds, yet they were convicted for enabling untraceable transfers.

Roger Ver, one of Bitcoin's earliest and most vocal promoters, exemplifies the risks of challenging the institutional narrative. Known for advocating Bitcoin as peer-to-peer electronic cash long before Wall Street's embrace, Ver funded key infrastructure and educated countless users. He faced arrest shortly after releasing his book Hijacking Bitcoin, which critiques how large interests shifted Bitcoin away from its original vision of decentralized money.

Supporters maintain that the timing of Ver's prosecution, centered on tax-related charges, serves to quiet a prominent critic during a period of rapid mainstream adoption. Ver remains under significant restrictions on public statements after finally getting to settle his case where he was forced to pay $50 million in back taxes. The treatment sends a clear signal to others who question the direction of Bitcoin's evolution; stay quiet or face the consequences.

These ongoing cases reveal a regulatory approach by the Trump administration that welcomes crypto only when it reinforces centralized control and seems to benefit Trump and his family. Privacy-focused innovations, non-custodial tools, and peer-to-peer systems that cannot be easily monitored or reversed still provoke strong enforcement actions. While regulated products flourish, the core principles of financial sovereignty and resistance to censorship remain under threat.

The shift from broad suppression to targeted actions against decentralization advocates marks a sophisticated phase in government strategy. Institutional crypto enjoys support and growth, but those preserving Bitcoin's original promise face imprisonment or silencing. Until privacy tools are protected and dissenting voices can speak freely, the claim that the war on crypto has truly ended rings hollow for many in the community.