Donald Trump has fulfilled his pledge to pardon Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder, offering him a “full and unconditional pardon” after more than a decade of imprisonment.
Trump announced the decision in a Truth Social post on 22 January, stating he had informed Ulbricht’s mother, Lynn, of the pardon personally.
Trump’s pardon of Ulbricht has been largely attributed to the unwavering support from the Libertarian movement, which has long criticised the government’s handling of the case.
Trump wrote,
"I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross."
The president acknowledged this backing in his statement, referencing the substantial support he received from the Libertarian community during his reelection campaign.
This act ends Ulbricht’s over a decade-long imprisonment, stemming from his operation of the Silk Road between 2011 and 2013.
Ulbricht, now 40, gained international attention after being arrested by the FBI in 2013 for his role in creating and operating Silk Road, an infamous darknet marketplace that allowed users to buy and sell illegal goods, primarily narcotics.
Operated under the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts, his platform facilitated the use of Bitcoin for transactions, significantly influencing the cryptocurrency's early days, but also linked it with illicit activities.
Between 2011 and 2013, the platform reportedly made over $13 million in commissions through Bitcoin transactions, serving over 100,000 buyers.
The seizure of the marketplace led to the FBI’s confiscation of 174,000 Bitcoin, much of which was later auctioned off by the US government.
Ulbricht was later convicted in 2015 on multiple charges, including conspiracy to traffic narcotics and money laundering, resulting in a severe sentence – two life terms plus 40 years without the possibility of parole.
Ulbricht’s conviction and subsequent sentence of two life terms plus 40 years without the possibility of parole has been the subject of ongoing controversy.
His supporters, including members of the Libertarian community and crypto advocates, have long argued that his sentence was disproportionately severe.
They point to his belief in free markets and individual freedom, central tenets of Libertarianism, as the foundation of Silk Road's creation, framing him as a political prisoner rather than a traditional criminal.
Trump echoed this sentiment in his post, describing the sentence as "ridiculous" and criticising the prosecutors involved in Ulbricht’s conviction.
He claimed,
"The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern-day weaponisation of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!"
During the 2024 presidential race, Trump capitalised on the issue, promising to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day back in office.
Trump repeatedly voiced his support for Ulbricht, vowing to commute his sentence on his first day in office if re-elected.
At the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, he remarked,
“If you vote for me, on day one, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.”
This promise resonated strongly with Libertarians and members of the crypto community, both of whom played a significant role in Trump’s victory in key swing states, and he ultimately fulfilled his pledge.
The Libertarian Party expressed their gratitude on social media following the pardon.
They posted on X,
“Thank you for honouring your pledge to Ross, to our members, and to libertarians everywhere, @realDonaldTrump.”
Lynn Ulbricht has been a persistent force in the battle to secure her son’s freedom through the "Free Ross" campaign.
Her dedication kept the case in the public eye and helped rally support from various sectors, particularly the crypto community.
After Trump’s announcement, the campaign’s account on X conveyed their immense relief and gratitude,
“Words cannot express how grateful we are. President Trump is a man of his word and he just saved Ross’s life. ROSS IS A FREE MAN!!!!!”
The pardon ends a prolonged and emotional battle for justice, which has seen the involvement of numerous high-profile figures in the crypto space, including Erik Voorhees, Michael Goldstein, and Amir Taaki.
Taaki, the former Bitcoin developer, said.
"I owe everything to Ross Ulbricht. Crypto changed my life. Crypto became big because of him. He made the ultimate sacrifice. We all benefited from his work,"
Ulbricht’s release, while a moment of relief for his supporters, is likely to spark further debate over the role of the US government in policing cryptocurrency activities and the ethical boundaries of freedom on the internet.
Supporters view it as a rectification of an overly harsh sentence, while critics highlight the extensive criminal activities facilitated by the Silk Road.
The timing and motivation behind the pardon are likely to be scrutinised, given its alignment with Trump’s broader promises to the crypto sector.
The exact date of Ulbricht’s release from the U.S. Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona, has not been confirmed.
However, his pardon marks a significant milestone in the ongoing discourse surrounding digital freedom, justice, and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency regulation.
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