Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht is Free, President Trump Signs ‘Unconditional’ Pardon

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Sujha Sundararajan

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Sujha Sundararajan

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Sujha has been recognised as 🟣 Women In Crypto 2024 🟣 by BeInCrypto for her leadership in crypto journalism.

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Ross Ulbricht is free

President Donald Trump has officially signed a “full and unconditional” pardon for Silk Road mastermind Ross Ulbricht on Tuesday.

The President has followed through on another campaign promise to commute Ulbricht’s two life sentences plus 40 years without parole for his ties to the infamous dark web marketplace.

Trump had called Ross Ulbricht’s mother to inform that he had signed a “full and unconditional pardon” for her son.

“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.

The President added that Ross Ulbricht’s two life sentences, plus 40 years of imprisonment, were “ridiculous.”

Ulbricht’s case gained widespread attention among the crypto community with supporters claiming clemency for Ross Ulbricht.

Following Trump’s post, the Free Ross campaign account expressed gratitude to the President, for keeping up his promise.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are,” the campaign page wrote on X. “President Trump is a man of his word and he just saved Ross’s life. ROSS IS A FREE MAN!!!!!”

Ross Ulbricht’s Silk Road Saga

Ulbricht, who turned 40 in March 2024, was convicted of seven counts related to his operation of Silk Road. The dark web marketplace facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods using Bitcoin, including distributing narcotics.

US prosecutors noted that the site had facilitated over 1.5 million transactions worth approximately $213 million.

Ross Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 after he admitted creating Silk Road and was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 without the option of parole.

President Trump first voiced support for Ross Ulbricht during the Libertarian National Convention in May 2024, promising to commute his sentence on “day one” if re-elected.

Following Trump’s victory in the November elections, Ulbricht expressed gratitude to those voted for the Republican on his behalf.

“I trust him to honor his pledge and give me a second chance. After 11+ years in darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel,” Ross Ulbricht posted on X.

President Trump’s key industry-related promises include establishing a bitcoin strategic stockpile, establishing a Crypto Presidential Advisory Council, repealing SAB 121, and turning the U.S. into a “Bitcoin mining powerhouse.”

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