Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous Silk Road marketplace, may see renewed hope for freedom as Elon Musk shared a statement on X suggesting President Donald Trump is preparing to issue a pardon.
Ulbricht, who has been incarcerated since 2013, was convicted on multiple charges, including money laundering, computer hacking, and drug trafficking.
His double life sentence without parole has been a focal point in debates around criminal justice reform, internet freedom, and the ethics of online marketplaces.
Ross will be freed too
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
Trump’s Clemency Promise Still Awaited
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on the first day of his presidency, stating at the Libertarian National Convention:
“If you vote for me, on day one, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.”
Despite this promise, Ulbricht’s sentence has not yet been reduced or pardoned. Advocates remain hopeful that President Trump will deliver on his commitment in the coming weeks.
Who Is Ross Ulbricht?
- Founder of Silk Road: In 2011, the then-26-year-old Ulbricht launched Silk Road, a darknet marketplace allowing anonymous Bitcoin transactions. The platform facilitated over $1.2 billion in trades before its shutdown.
- Arrest and Trial: He was apprehended in 2013 at a public library in San Francisco, where FBI agents seized his laptop connected to the Silk Road’s admin panel.
- Sentencing: In 2015, Ulbricht received two life sentences plus 40 years without parole, a sentence that many argue is disproportionate for a first-time, non-violent offender.