President Donald Trump has signed an executive order granting a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the controversial Silk Road darknet marketplace.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order granting a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the controversial Silk Road darknet marketplace. The announcement was made via a post on Truth Social, where Trump expressed his gratitude to Ulbricht's mother and acknowledged support from the Libertarian Movement.
Ulbricht was serving two life sentences plus an additional 40 years after being convicted in 2015 on multiple charges, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise and conspiracy to distribute narcotics.
His arrest by the FBI in October 2013 stemmed from his role in facilitating the sale of illegal products and services on Silk Road, which notably utilized Bitcoin for transactions. This association contributed to early perceptions of Bitcoin's links to criminal activity.
The Free Ross campaign, representing Ulbricht’s family, shared their gratitude on social media, stating, “Words cannot express how grateful we are. President Trump is a man of his word and he just saved Ross's life.”
Advocates for Ulbricht had long argued that his sentence was excessively harsh, viewing his actions through a lens of libertarian ideals centered on free markets and personal freedom.
During his presidential campaign, Trump had pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office if re-elected.
Following Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the November election, prominent figures in the cryptocurrency community reminded him of this commitment.
In addition to the pardon, Trump had previously announced intentions to create a strategic Bitcoin stockpile and appoint a cryptocurrency-friendly SEC Chair.
The pardon marks a pivotal moment for Ulbricht's supporters, who have campaigned for his release for years, citing the impact of his work on the cryptocurrency landscape.
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