Last year on May 25, Donald Trump promised to commute the sentence of early Bitcoin pioneer and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to prison if he were elected president. As we all know, Trump won the election and will take office in a week.
This leaves an important question for Bitcoiners: Will Trump actually pardon Ross?
I believe Trump will remain 100% true to his word and free Ross from prison. I have seen nothing to indicate that Trump would do differently and I have only seen things that give me confidence that he will keep this promise. It should be relatively easy for Trump to do this, and given his continued support of the Bitcoin industry, I am confident that Ross will soon be running as a free man again.
Judging by Ross’ X accountwhich is currently run by his wife, he is preparing to leave prison soon.
“For my last monthly resolution of 2024, I plan to study every day and stay informed as much as possible as I prepare for freedom,” she said recently posted on behalf of Roos.
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 transacted in bitcoin. He was a non-violent, first-time offender, sentenced to a double life plus 40 years without parole. At Ross’s trial, he was not prosecuted for causing harm or bodily harm, and no victim was named. Although Ross was not tried for selling drugs or illegal items himself, he was held responsible for what others reported on Silk Road, including drugs.
Now, twelve years later, the time has come for Ross to be released.
In 2022, Ross wrote President Biden a letter asking for clemency, explaining that he did not create the website with bad intentions and was merely promoting the libertarian ideology he believed in. He also shared that if released, he would not do anything to “break the law.” .
President Biden ignored the letter and kept him in jail. 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 make good on his promise.
I am deeply grateful to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust that he will keep his promise and give me a second chance.
After more than eleven years in darkness, I finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Thank you very much, @realDonaldTrump 🙏
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) November 12, 2024
I’m looking forward to seeing Ross come home.
This article is a To take. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.