President Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the drug marketplace Silk Road who is revered by many cryptocurrency enthusiasts and libertarians.
“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbright to let her know,” Mr. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, misspelling Ulbricht’s name.
Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole nearly a decade ago. He had created and operated Silk Road on the dark web, turning it into an international drug marketplace that facilitated more than 1.5 million transactions. At his 2015 sentencing, a judge said Ulbricht was “the kingpin of a worldwide digital drug-trafficking enterprise.”
But crypto enthusiasts have long been championing Ulbricht’s release. Silk Road was one of the first platforms where people could use Bitcoin to buy and sell goods. And many thought his was given an overly harsh sentence. Trump, who courted cryptocurrency enthusiasts during his campaign, said last year that he would work to free Ulbricht.
A website dedicated to Ulbricht’s release was updated Wednesday to include a statement attributed to his family. “Our immense gratitude to President Trump for giving Ross a second chance and to all those who have supported us throughout the years,” the statement reads. “From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!”
Login to add comment
Other posts in this group

While Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and other AI industry leaders can’t stop

A senior lawyer in Australia has apologized to a judge for


Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in a modern airliner’s cockpit? While you’re enjoying your in-flight movie, a quiet technological revolution is underway, one that’s

Hello again, and welcome to Fast Company’s Plugged In.
For as long as there’s been software, upgrades have been emotionally fraught. When people grow accustomed to a pr


The summer holidays are here and many of us will heading off on trips to hot and sunny destinations,