Ross Ulbricht Freed: Trump Grants Pardon to Silk Road Founder After 10 Years in Prison

In a landmark decision that has reignited debates about justice, technology, and government power, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the mastermind behind Silk Road, a darknet marketplace notorious for facilitating over $200 million in illicit trade using Bitcoin (BTC). Ulbricht, now 40, had been serving multiple life sentences since 2015 in a federal prison in Arizona.

Trump’s Announcement and Libertarian Support
Trump broke the news on his Truth Social platform, citing overwhelming support from the Libertarian movement and calling the original sentencing “outrageous.” The announcement fulfilled a promise he made at the Libertarian National Convention.

“I just spoke to Ross’s mother to let her know I’ve granted a full pardon to her son,” Trump shared. “The system worked against him, just as it has against me. This is a victory for liberty and justice.”

The Rise and Fall of Silk Road
Operating under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht ran Silk Road between 2011 and 2013. Using the Tor network for anonymity and Bitcoin for transactions, the platform became a hub for over 100,000 users trading illegal goods and services. At its height, Silk Road was reportedly tied to 80% of all Bitcoin mined up to that time.

Despite Ulbricht’s defense portraying the site as a libertarian experiment in free-market economics, prosecutors alleged he took extreme measures to maintain control, including allegedly commissioning assassinations—though no evidence showed these acts were carried out.

The 2013 takedown of Silk Road marked a turning point for cryptocurrency, highlighting its potential for misuse. Years later, in 2022, authorities seized $3.5 billion worth of Bitcoin tied to the marketplace.

A Controversial Verdict
Ulbricht’s double life sentence plus 40 years drew widespread criticism, sparking the "Free Ross" movement, which garnered over 600,000 signatures advocating for his release. Trump’s pardon has been hailed as a victory by Ulbricht’s supporters but criticized by some as undermining justice for victims of Silk Road’s trade.

A New Chapter for Ross Ulbricht
Brandon Sample, Ulbricht’s clemency attorney, expressed gratitude for the decision. “This pardon gives Ross the chance to start fresh, contribute to society, and finally move past a decade of incarceration.”

For Ulbricht, the pardon is a turning point, offering the opportunity to rebuild his life and perhaps rejoin the conversation about privacy, technology, and the evolving role of cryptocurrency.