Trump Pardons Ross Ulbricht
Donald Trump, the newly elected U.S. President, has granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder and operator of the infamous darknet marketplace Silk Road. In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump declared that the 41-year-old’s release was “in honour of the libertarian movement.” Trump criticised those responsible for Ulbricht’s conviction, labelling them as “scum” and claiming they used state resources against him. The pardon clears Ulbricht’s criminal record entirely.
A Decade-Old Conviction Overturned
Ulbricht launched Silk Road in 2011, a platform that became the most successful darknet marketplace of its time. Silk Road operated like eBay, offering both legal and illegal items, including drugs, counterfeit IDs, pirated goods, and weapons. Transactions were conducted anonymously using Bitcoin, which gained significant traction as a result. The marketplace’s professional interface and reliance on the anonymity of the darknet allowed it to thrive until U.S. authorities arrested Ulbricht in 2013.
In 2015, Ulbricht was convicted on seven counts and sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. During sentencing, Ulbricht admitted to making “terrible mistakes” and pleaded for a chance to experience his later years outside prison. His request was denied—until now. Trump’s pardon grants Ulbricht freedom and resolves his criminal record.
Silk Road’s Legacy
Silk Road not only highlighted the capabilities of Bitcoin for transactions but also became a symbol within cryptocurrency communities. Many in the crypto space rallied for Ulbricht’s release under the slogan “Free Ross,” with Trump leveraging this support during his campaign. His pardon fulfills a campaign promise and demonstrates his outreach to the cryptocurrency industry, which reportedly provided substantial financial backing for his reelection campaign.