Last year on May 25, Donald Trump vowed to commute the sentence of early Bitcoin pioneer and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to time served if elected president. As we all know, Trump won the election and will take office one week from today.
This leaves a major question on the minds of Bitcoiners: Will Trump actually pardon Ross?
I believe Trump will 100% stay true to his word and free Ross from prison. I have not seen anything to suggest that Trump would do otherwise and have only seen things that make me confident he will follow through on this promise. It should be relatively easy for Trump to do, and given his continuous backing of the Bitcoin industry, I am confident Ross is going to be walking as a free man again soon.
Judging by Ross’ X account, which is currently run by his wife, he is preparing to leave prison soon.
“For my last monthly resolution of 2024, I intend to study every day and to get up to speed as much as I can as I prepare for freedom,” she recently posted on behalf of Ross.
For those unfamiliar with the story, Ross has been in prison since 2013 for creating a website, Silk Road, where users could buy and sell things transacting in bitcoin. He was a non-violent, first-time offender, sentenced to double life plus 40 years without parole. At Ross’ trial, he was not prosecuted for causing any harm or bodily injury, and no victim was named. While Ross was not tried for selling drugs or illegal items himself, he was held responsible for what others listed on Silk Road, which included drugs.
Now, 12 years later, the time has come for Ross to be freed.
In 2022, Ross wrote President Biden a letter asking to be pardoned, in which he explained he did not create the website with any bad intentions and was simply promoting the libertarian ideology he believed in. He also shared that, if freed, he would not do anything to “break the law” again.
President Biden ignored the letter, and kept him in prison. And now President Trump has the chance to let him live the rest of his life as a free man.
Ross himself also believes that Trump will deliver on his promise.
Immense gratitude to everyone who voted for President Trump on my 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. Thank you so much, @realDonaldTrump 🙏
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) November 12, 2024
I look forward to seeing Ross come home.
This article is a Take. Opinions expressed are entirely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
