Ross Ulbricht has thanked Donald Trump for giving him a full and unconditional pardon—and hinted that he plans to play a task in public life.
The 40-year-old based Silk Street, a darknet market the place unlawful medicine have been purchased and bought anonymously utilizing Bitcoin.
It operated from 2011 to 2013, and Ulbricht was later handed two life sentences plus 40 years with no likelihood of parole for his function in working {the marketplace}.
In a video posted on Twitter, he stated: "Thank you so much President Trump, for giving me this amazing blessing. I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back, to have this second chance."
Ulbricht described his launch as an "important moment" for his household—and all those that campaigned for his launch, with critics describing his punishment as extreme.
pic.twitter.com/pbqRh9spnk
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) January 24, 2025
Greater than 600,000 folks had signed a Change.org petition asking for clemency provided that Ulbricht was a first-time, non-violent offender. Bitcoiners had argued he embodied the cryptocurrency's core values.
"This is a victory, and it's your victory too," Ulbricht stated. "This is an important moment for everybody, everywhere who loves freedom and who cares about second chances."
Trying exhausted and relieved, he stated his launch feels "amazing" and "overwhelming"—and that he now plans to spend time along with his household "so that we can reunite, be whole again and heal."
Ulbricht added: "But there's a lot to talk about, and I look forward to re-engaging with the free world. Once I'm feeling up to it, we'll talk again."
Trump had pledged to pardon the entrepreneur whereas on the marketing campaign path—together with on the Libertarian Nationwide Conference final Could, regardless of being heckled and booed by the gang.
Greater than 2.5 BTC (price about $277,000 on the time of writing) has been donated to an official pockets belonging to the Free Ross marketing campaign, with crypto alternate Kraken sending $111,000 to assist him "land on his feet."
As Decrypt reported, that's regardless of Coinbase govt Conor Grogan revealing that Ulbricht could also be sitting on a crypto fortune.
An estimated 430 BTC that was by no means seized by the federal government presently sits untouched throughout a myriad of wallets linked to Ulbricht, nevertheless it's unclear whether or not he has the non-public keys to entry this $47 million windfall.
