Ulbricht Pardoned — A Crypto Victory
President Trump’s first “crypto-themed decree” pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founder of the infamous Silk Road, which was shut down in 2013. The decision is a landmark victory for the techno-libertarian community, which has long fought for Ulbricht’s release.
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Ross was handed a life sentence after being found guilty of running Silk Road, a darknet marketplace that facilitated anonymous trade, including drug sales. The verdict prompted significant public backlash and intense discussions about its fairness.
Many viewed the sentence as unduly harsh, especially considering Ulbricht’s age and his background as a graduate student from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania who was experimenting with free-market concepts.
Protests in support of Ross were held outside the Capitol. Source: Х
Ulbricht’s advocates have consistently defended his libertarian worldview, highlighting his belief in personal freedom and the right to make one’s own decisions, even if they defy convention. They maintained that Silk Road was a daring free-market trial, not a criminal organization.
The legal provision under which Ross was sentenced is traditionally reserved for mafia dons and cartel leaders. For creating a marketplace that included the trade of marijuana—a substance now legal in the majority of U.S. states—two life sentences are widely regarded as both overly severe and morally unjustifiable.
Accused of laundering millions, Ross lived a quiet and modest life—he didn’t own a car and shared a house with three roommates. Those same roommates visited him in prison and testified in his defense during the trial.
In the crypto world, many believe Ross’s arrest was motivated by the government’s desire to seize the Silk Road bitcoins. Interestingly, those confiscated coins helped create today’s crypto tycoons, such as Tim Draper and Barry Silbert, who purchased them at government auctions for a fraction of their current value.
For a comprehensive exploration of Ross’s story, often called the most “shameful” chapter in American judicial history, check out our article “Ross Ulbricht: Drug lord or the first crypto-prisoner?”
First photo of Ross Ulbricht following his release. Source: Х
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Ulbricht’s pardon is a triumph for proponents of civil rights and government accountability. It stands as a beacon of hope that fairness and justice can prevail, even in the face of adversity.
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