Oddbean new post about | logout
 Because they didn't launder money for anyone.  They wrote open source code that facilitated privacy on bitcoin, and then loudly speculated that it could be used for money laundering.  They might be slimy, but even if they are the precedent that writing code to facilitate private transactions constitutes money laundering is exremely dangerous.  The US has a common law system, so precedent becomes law. 
 When your customer service department, tell someone yes indeed we can clean your Bitcoin for you. That’s not decentralized. That’s not just code especially when you charge more for the transactions. I’m assuming you haven’t read the indictment. 
 I have not read the indictment, nor am I am attorney.  I also did not use the product.  My understanding was that they wrote a protocol that allowed people to coordinate coin joins without their input or knowledge, and loudly boasted that it could be used for money laundering, and that no one could stop it.  That is inconsistent with charging more for money laundering services, or at least independent of it.

If they took custody of customer funds for the explicit purpose of launder them, in exchange for a fee, then I am badly misinformed, and concede your point.  At least on that charge, although I still think it is a dangerous precedent if they are also charged and convicted because of the code that the wrote. 
 It’s unfortunate, but it is what they did. I know everybody’s gut reaction is to say they did nothing wrong but if you read it, they knew what they were doing. They skirted the law and it’s just not something anyone’s gonna get away with especially $1 billion worth. 
 Skirting the law is actually not a crime.

Shouldn't even need to be said but here we are. 
 That’s not squirting the law that’s breaking the law. It’s called intent 
 It may not be in the Netherlands, but it is here or they wouldn’t be charging them 
 AFAIK, this is where you are wrong.
They are charging them because they think they can win and set precedent.  
 ....however,

I do agree with your point that it's not a wise course of action to poke the bear and publicly acknowledge doing so.

It's just not illegal.
and I don't think its unethical either. 
 I am personally upset that this is the precident  that is going to be used 
 I'll take things that dont appear in the Samourai indictment for 300 Alex 
 That’s in their marketing material 
 Do you understand that code does not have a marketing department or a customer service department to answer emails 
 There is an entire list in the indictment of what went through and they knew it