On May 25 last year, Donald Trump pledged to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, early Bitcoin pioneer and founder of Silk Road, to time served if he was elected president. As we all know, Trump won the election and will take office a week from today.
This leaves a major question on the minds of Bitcoin users: Will Trump actually pardon Ross?
I think Trump will stick to his word 100% and release Ross from prison. I haven’t seen anything to suggest that Trump will do otherwise, and I’ve only seen things that make me confident that he will keep that promise. It should be relatively easy for Trump to do this, and given his continued support of the Bitcoin industry, I’m confident that Ross will walk like a free man again soon.
Judging by Ross X accountWhich is currently managed by his wife, and he is preparing to leave prison soon.
“For my final monthly resolution of 2024, I intend to study every day and get as up to speed as possible in preparation for freedom,” she said recently. to publish On behalf of Ross.
For those who aren’t familiar with the story, Ross has been in prison since 2013 for creating a website, Silk Road, where users could buy and sell things using Bitcoin. He was a non-violent, first-time offender and was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years without parole. In Ross’s trial, he was not tried for causing any bodily harm or injury, and no victim was named. Although Ross was not tried for selling drugs or illegal substances himself, he was responsible for what others listed on the Silk Road, which included drugs.
Now, 12 years later, it’s time to release Ross.
In 2022, Ross wrote to President Biden A letter He asked for a pardon, explaining that he did not create the site with any bad intentions, and was simply promoting the libertarian ideology in which he believed. He also said that if he was released, he would not do anything to “break the law” again.
President Biden ignored the letter and kept him in prison. And now President Trump has the opportunity to let him live the rest of his life as a free man.
Ross himself also believes Trump will keep his promise.
So grateful to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust him to fulfill his promise and give me a second chance.
After more than 11 years in the dark, I can 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 takes. The opinions expressed are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.