Donald Trump Pardons Ross Ulbricht, Founder of the Notorious Silk Road Black Market

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous Silk Road black market, has been granted a presidential pardon by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole, was convicted on charges of money laundering, drug trafficking, and computer hacking.

“I called Ross William Ulbricht’s mother to inform her that, in honor of her strong libertarian movement, which has supported me greatly, it is my pleasure to grant her son, Ross, a full and unconditional pardon,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Ulbricht has been serving his life sentence since 2015. Prosecutors in the case argued that the black market he created was used by thousands of drug traffickers, boasting over 1,000 regular buyers. The platform was also reportedly used to launder hundreds of millions of dollars.

In addition to these charges, Ulbricht was accused of commissioning hits on his enemies, although prosecutors were unable to substantiate these allegations. His pardon comes after an unsuccessful attempt to appeal his conviction in 2017.

The decision to pardon Ulbricht has sparked significant debate. Crypto enthusiasts, many of whom are ardent Trump supporters, have long argued that his sentence was excessively harsh.

As one of the most high-profile cases involving the darknet and cryptocurrency, Ulbricht’s story has drawn attention from libertarians, tech advocates, and human rights activists alike. His pardon marks a controversial chapter in the ongoing dialogue surrounding criminal justice reform, the digital economy, and the future of online privacy.

Whether viewed as an act of compassion or a politically motivated move, Trump’s decision underscores the complexity and polarizing nature of this case.