Who is Ross Ulbricht and will Donald Trump free him?
Ross Ulbricht
The Bitcoin community eagerly anticipates the inauguration of the new U.S. president. On January 20, Donald Trump may fulfill one of his campaign promises: to release Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the world's first Bitcoin marketplace, Silk Road, from prison.
The story of Silk Road
Launched in February 2011, Silk Road was the first and most infamous darknet marketplace. Operating on the Tor browser, it ensured complete confidentiality. Users could anonymously purchase almost any goods and services, including drugs, counterfeit documents, hacking tools, and weapons.
Silk Road interface. Source: Web Archive.
The marketplace's administration prohibited the sale of items that could cause direct harm to people, such as weapons of mass destruction or hitman services.
Silk Road's standout feature was that all transactions were conducted using Bitcoin. It became the first-ever platform for Bitcoin purchases, elevating the cryptocurrency from a niche experiment to a functional asset.
Who created Silk Road?
Silk Road was created by Ross Ulbricht, who operated under the pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts." A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas and a physicist by training, Ulbricht became deeply influenced by libertarian ideas. Determined to create a platform reflecting his beliefs in free markets and minimal government interference, he launched Silk Road, which operated until October 2013 when the FBI shut it down.
Despite efforts to maintain anonymity, Ulbricht was arrested the same year in San Francisco after months of investigation. Authorities identified him through early forum posts where he mentioned Silk Road. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and has now spent 12 years behind bars.
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The Free Ross movement
The Bitcoin community refuses to acknowledge Ross Ulbricht's guilt, viewing the punishment as excessively harsh. In response, the Free Ross initiative emerged.
The movement's primary goal is to have Ulbricht's sentence reconsidered, arguing that he was convicted for non-violent offenses and merely sought to implement libertarian ideals. Supporters claim that his punishment serves as a symbolic act of deterrence and highlights the injustices of the American legal system.
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The campaign for Ross's freedom has united thousands of people worldwide, including prominent figures from the Bitcoin industry. Through crowdfunding, petitions, and events, the movement continues to draw attention to Ulbricht's case and advocate for judicial reform.
However, despite their efforts, the Free Ross movement has yet to achieve significant results. Numerous clemency petitions submitted to President Joe Biden's administration have been ignored, leading many to fear that Ulbricht will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Donald Trump's campaign promises
A breakthrough in the fight for Ross Ulbricht's freedom came with Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election. During his campaign, Trump emphasized cryptocurrencies.
Speaking to voters, the presidential candidate promised to turn the U.S. into the "cryptocurrency capital" of the world by reducing regulatory oversight of the industry and creating a strategic Bitcoin reserve. He also pledged to free the creator of Silk Road if elected.
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Will he follow through?
The Bitcoin community is counting down the days until the new president's inauguration on January 20. It is expected that Trump will begin implementing his cryptocurrency-related promises by signing the necessary executive orders.
The burning question remains: Will the new president free Ross Ulbricht? If he does, it would mark a historic step, signaling the U.S. government's readiness to reform both the justice system and cryptocurrency regulation.
