Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht on his first day in office
Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, fulfilling campaign promise
United States President Donald Trump has officially signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road darknet marketplace, according to an announcement on Truth Social.
The decision fulfills a longstanding campaign promise and has been celebrated by Ulbricht’s family and supporters, reports The Block.
Trump’s Statement
Trump announced the pardon in honor of Ulbricht’s mother and the Libertarian movement, which he credited for strong support during his campaign. He described Ulbricht’s double life sentence, plus 40 years, as “ridiculous” and criticized those involved in his conviction.
The Free Ross campaign, led by Ulbricht’s family, expressed overwhelming gratitude on X, stating:
“President Trump is a man of his word and he just saved Ross’s life. ROSS IS A FREE MAN!!!!!”
Ulbricht’s Background
Ross Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 for operating Silk Road, a darknet market facilitating illegal activities, including narcotics sales. The platform used Bitcoin for transactions, popularizing cryptocurrency but also associating it with illicit activities in its early days. His sentence was widely criticized as excessively harsh by advocates who viewed his actions as rooted in libertarian ideals of free markets and individual freedom.
Bitcoin Community’s Longstanding Support
Ulbricht’s case has been a rallying point for Bitcoin supporters and libertarians, who argued that his sentence was disproportionate. During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office. Presidential ally Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also made similar promises during his campaign.
Legacy of Silk Road
The U.S. government seized approximately 174,000 Bitcoin from Silk Road’s wallets after the platform’s shutdown in 2013, much of which was later auctioned. Ulbricht’s pardon represents a significant moment for the crypto community, symbolizing broader support for individual freedom and cryptocurrency’s potential.
With this decision, Trump has reaffirmed his alignment with the crypto and libertarian movements, signaling a new chapter in Ulbricht’s life after 11 years in prison.
Recently we wrote, that on his first day in office, President Donald J. Trump made no mention of Bitcoin or crypto, nor did he issue any crypto-related executive orders.
