Ross Ulbricht thanked President Donald Trump profusely Wednesday for issuing a full pardon notice after the dark web operator spent over 11 years in a cage. Silk Road creator Ulbricht received a life sentence without parole back in 2015 for his involvement in the notorious deep web marketplace.
His advocates have long argued that the punishment he received was massively out of line, particularly since he did not directly engage in illegal activity but rather created an infrastructure that enabled anonymous transactions.
“This moment will alter the course of my life,” Ulbricht said in a statement. “I just want to thank President Trump for this second chance I’ve been given — a chance to be free and a chance for my future. “Today’s news is not just a win for me; it is a win for all who believe in freedom and second chances.”
Ulbricht’s release has reignited a debate over the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal enterprises. Some of his supporters see it as a sign that the legal landscape is shifting.
Many inside the cryptocurrency community view the pardon as a momentous development, demonstrating how Trump has stayed true to his pledges to the space and the details surrounding his case. What fallout this decision has remains to be seen, but for Ulbricht, it opens the door to a new chapter.
