- Former US President Trump has not yet delivered on his promise to commute Ross Ulbricht’s prison sentence.
- Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, is serving two life sentences plus 40 years for cryptocurrency-related crimes.
- Trump pledged at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention to commute Ulbricht’s sentence if elected.
- Over 150 current and former prisoners support Ulbricht’s clemency petition.
- The case remains a central discussion point in debates about criminal justice reform and internet freedom.
Ross Ulbricht, the founder of darknet marketplace Silk Road, continues to serve his prison sentence despite previous indications from former President Donald Trump about a potential sentence commutation. The development affects the cryptocurrency community’s hopes for Ulbricht’s release, who has served over a decade behind bars.
Presidential Promise and Legal Context
During his appearance at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, Trump made a direct commitment to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office. The 40-year-old Ulbricht expressed gratitude for this promise from his prison cell.
A sentence commutation differs from a pardon – while a pardon removes the conviction entirely, a commutation only reduces the sentence while maintaining the original conviction. The White House has not responded to requests for comment about future plans regarding Ulbricht’s case.
The Silk Road Legacy
Silk Road, established in 2011, processed $1.2 billion in Bitcoin transactions before authorities shut it down. The platform marked the beginning of cryptocurrency-powered darknet marketplaces, combining anonymous transactions with an e-commerce interface.
Federal agents arrested Ulbricht in 2013 at a San Francisco library, securing critical evidence from his laptop while it remained connected to the site’s administration panel. In 2015, courts convicted him of money laundering, computer Hacking, and narcotics trafficking.
Prison Reform and Support
During his incarceration, Ulbricht has maintained a clean record, focusing on education initiatives for fellow inmates. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin supported Ulbricht’s case, stating that life imprisonment for his actions was excessive.
In a 2021 prison interview, Ulbricht reflected on his situation: "I’ll spend the next few decades in this cage. Then, sometime later this century, I’ll grow old and die. I’ll finally leave prison, but I’ll be in a body bag."
Later that year, he expressed remorse, stating: "I was trying to help us move toward a freer and more equitable world. We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and now here I am. I’m in hell."
His supporters emphasize his non-violent approach and positive prison record, while prosecutors maintain their characterization of him as a significant criminal operator who facilitated illegal transactions through cryptocurrency channels.
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