Trump grants pardon to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

President Donald Trump has fulfilled his promise by granting a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, a notorious online marketplace known for illegal drug sales.

“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Ulbricht had been serving a life sentence since 2015 for his role in operating Silk Road, which facilitated transactions using Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) and became infamous for its connection to drug trafficking.

Trump criticised Ulbricht’s sentence as “ridiculous,” highlighting the disparity between his punishment and those of other offenders.

The pardon comes after significant pressure from libertarian activists and members of the crypto community who viewed Ulbricht as a victim of government overreach.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul had also urged Trump to consider clemency for Ulbricht shortly before the announcement.

Supporters argue that Ulbricht's contributions to Bitcoin and digital marketplaces should not be overshadowed by his criminal charges.

Many in the crypto community regard him as a pioneer who helped popularise Bitcoin during its early days.

Ulbricht has consistently maintained that while he was involved with Silk Road, he was not solely responsible for its operations.

His case has sparked ongoing debates about justice and the legal treatment of individuals associated with cryptocurrency.