Last year on May 25, Donald Trump promised to serve the sentence of the early Bitcoin pioneer and founder of Silk Road Ross Ulbricht to time if he was elected president. As we all know, Trump won the election and will be in office a week from today.
This leaves a big question on the minds of Bitcoiners: Will Trump pardon Ross?
I believe Trump will stay 100% true to his word and release Ross from prison. I saw nothing to suggest that Trump would do otherwise and I only saw things that gave me confidence that he would follow through on this promise. It should be relatively easy for Trump to do, and with his continued support of the Bitcoin industry, I'm sure Ross will be walking a free man again soon.
Judging by Ross' X accountwhich is currently run by his wife, he is preparing to leave prison soon.
“For my last monthly resolution of 2024, I plan to study every day and get as fast as I can as I prepare for freedom,” she said. recently. posted on behalf of Ross.
For those who don't know the story, Ross has been in prison since 2013 for creating a website, Silk Road, where users could buy and sell things in bitcoin. He was a first-time non-violent offender, with a double life sentence plus 40 years without parole. At Ross' trial, he was not charged with any bodily harm or injury, and no victim was named. Although Ross was not tried for selling drugs or illegal substances himself, he was responsible for what others listed on Silk Road, including drugs.
Now, 12 years later, it's time to free Ross.
In 2022, Ross wrote President Biden a a letter asked for forgiveness, in which he explained that he did not create the website with any malicious intent and was simply promoting the libertarian ideology in which he believed. He also said that if he was released, he would not do anything to “break the law” again.
President Biden ignored the letter, and kept him in prison. And now President Trump has a chance to let him live out the rest of his life as a free man.
Ross himself also believes that Trump will fulfill his promise.
A big thank you to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust him to honor his promise and give me a second chance.
After 11+ years in darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so much, @realDonaldTrump 🙏
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) November 12, 2024
I'm looking forward to seeing Ross come home.
This article is a Take. The views expressed are entirely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.
