Donald Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht After Life Sentence
U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious Silk Road online marketplace. Ulbricht, 40, had been serving a life sentence for facilitating over $200 million in illicit trade, including drugs, via bitcoin on the dark web.
Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 and sentenced in 2015 after prosecutors accused him of operating Silk Road under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.” Trump announced the pardon on Truth Social, calling the conviction an example of government weaponization, and personally informed Ulbricht’s mother of his release.
Ulbricht’s clemency lawyer, Brandon Sample, described the decision as a chance for Ulbricht to “begin anew, rebuild his life, and contribute positively to society.” Ulbricht was released from federal prison in Arizona late Tuesday following Trump’s announcement.
The pardon fulfills Trump’s campaign promise and aligns with his administration’s softer stance on cryptocurrency, contrasting the stricter regulatory measures under President Joe Biden. Libertarians and advocates for drug legalization had long pushed for Ulbricht’s release, citing government overreach.
Ulbricht’s case, which became a landmark in cybercrime prosecution, sparked debate over privacy, cryptocurrency, and online marketplaces. While prosecutors alleged Ulbricht solicited murders to protect the site—though no evidence proved they occurred—he maintained his goal was to promote a “freewheeling, free market” online.