After 11 Years, Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Awaits Potential Release Under Trump

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace, has expressed profound gratitude toward supporters who voted for President Donald Trump, trusting him to honor his commitment to commute Ulbricht’s sentence.

Ulbricht, who has been incarcerated for over 11 years, conveyed his optimism about regaining freedom, stating he can “finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel.”

During the Libertarian National Convention in May 2024, Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day back in office, a promise that resonated with many libertarians and cryptocurrency advocates.

Politico Ulbricht’s case has been a focal point in discussions about criminal justice reform and the appropriate sentencing for non-violent offenses.

The Silk Road, which operated from 2011 until Ulbricht’s arrest in 2013, facilitated the anonymous sale of illegal goods and services using Bitcoin. Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 and received a double life sentence plus 40 years without the possibility of parole.

His supporters have long argued that the sentence was excessively harsh for a first-time, non-violent offender.

Trump’s commitment to commuting Ulbricht’s sentence has been viewed as an effort to appeal to libertarian voters and the cryptocurrency community, both of which have been vocal in advocating for Ulbricht’s release.

The former president’s stance on this issue marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over digital privacy, the dark web, and criminal justice reform.

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One response to “After 11 Years, Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Awaits Potential Release Under Trump”

  1. […] timing is notable—following Ulbricht’s pardon in January 2025 by President Trump and release after over a decade incarcerated. The motivation remains unclear: whether symbolic […]

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