Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, has made a commitment to grant a presidential pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, if he is re-elected in the upcoming November election.
During his speech at the Libertarian Party’s National Convention in Washington on May 25, Trump declared, “If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht. He’s already served 11 years, we’re going to get him home.” Silk Road, the first modern darknet market, gained notoriety for its use of Bitcoin as a payment system.
Silk Road was established in 2011 and was operated by Ulbricht under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts.” However, on October 1, 2013, the laptop used by Ulbricht was seized by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In 2015, Ulbricht was convicted in a U.S. federal court for various charges related to the operations of Silk Road. He received two life terms plus forty years in prison, with no possibility of parole.
Trump also addressed his stance on cryptocurrencies, which had changed earlier this year. He expressed his support for the future of crypto and Bitcoin in the United States, emphasizing the importance of keeping the development and innovation within the country. He promised to protect individuals who choose to hold their crypto assets outside centralized exchanges and advocated for the right to self-custody.
In a notable shift from his previous remarks during his tenure as president, where he referred to Bitcoin as a scam, Trump stated, “I will keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your Bitcoin.” This indicates a significant change in his attitude towards digital assets.