- Donald Trump has publicly pledged to save Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road creator, as he begins his 12th year in prison
- Ulbricht, who has been imprisoned since 2013, received a controversial sentence of two life terms plus 40 years without parole
- Trump’s support for Ulbricht may resonate with crypto enthusiasts who view him as a pioneer of digital freedom despite his illegal activities
Former US President Donald Trump doubled down on support for Silk Road’s founder Ross Ulbricht, who on Oct. 1 started serving his 12th year in prison. Back in March, the 40-year-old had his family write in his X account—the only means by which he can communicate with the outside world: “Today marks the start of my 12th year in prison.”
Donald Trump Supports Silk Road’s Founder
Publishing a screenshot of Ulbricht’s latest posting, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I WILL SAVE ROSS ULRICHT!”
The Silk Road was an online marketplace operating on the dark web. It was launched in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht, using the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.” It used the anonymous Tor network; all transactions on it were in Bitcoin, ensuring buyers remained anonymous. Indeed, some valid goods and products were put on sale on Silk Road, but essentially, it was an online place for the purchase and sale of drugs, guns, and such vices.
Due to the security of the Tor network, along with the decentralized nature of a Bitcoin transaction, it provided a haven for those wanting to avoid any kind of scrutiny from the law. The online marketplace Silk Road was at the center of all the discussions on how cryptocurrencies are used for criminal activities.
The site was shut down by the FBI in 2013. Ross Ulbricht, aka “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was arrested and sentenced to two life sentences plus 40 years in prison without parole. The case marked one of the very first interventions by law enforcement agencies against the use of cryptocurrencies in illegal contexts and opened ethical and legal questions regarding anonymity on the web and the use of cryptocurrencies for illicit transactions.
Why Would Donald Trump Want to Save Ulbricht?
Donald Trump has promised, if elected, to commute Ulbricht’s prison sentence on day one of his presidency, and considering he has served 12 years already, he will most definitely be released.
Besides, many feel the sentence handed to Ulbricht has been excessive, considering that he was young and probably built something bigger than himself. Now, it would appear that Donald Trump wants to ride this cause to win the support of crypto enthusiasts, hardcore supporters of Ulbricht, who had been a pioneer in the digital space, though for not exactly noble purposes.
Who is Ross Ulbricht? He was born on March 27, 1984, in Austin, Texas. Growing up, all he wanted was personal freedom and a decentralized market since his childhood.
He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he got a physics degree in 2006. Later on, he went to Pennsylvania State University for materials engineering; however, under the influence of authors such as Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard, his interest later turned to economics and libertarian philosophy.
Conclusions
One of the most defining moments in the ongoing debate on the use of cryptocurrencies and digital freedom came with the support Donald Trump gave Ross Ulbricht. In his 12th year of detention, Ulbricht’s story still raises ethical and legal questions about justice and the innovations taking place in the world of cryptocurrencies.
A Trump promise to review Ulbricht’s sentence would energize support from the crypto community and make his situation even more relevant to the current debate on cryptocurrency policies.
