The Bitcoin community believes that Donald Trump will likely pardon Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht once he assumes office.
Bitcoiners on the Kalshi prediction market are trading binary options that rate Ross Ulbricht’s chance of receiving a commutation from incoming President Donald Trump at 82% .
Trump promised to free Ross Ulbricht during his campaign days
Speaking at the Libertarian Party’s National Convention on May 25, 2024, Donald Trump promised to commute the sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht on his first day in office. He made the same promise at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in July 2024.
Bitcoin enthusiasts still believe that Trump will keep his word and release Ross within his first 100 days in office. Bets on Kalshi even put Ross at an 81% chance of a presidential pardon, while on Polymarket’s prediction market, Ross’s odds of a Trump pardon are at 79%.
Not to mention, his wife has hinted that Ross is preparing to leave jail soon. She posted on his behalf on his X account, saying:
For my last monthly resolution of 2024, I intend to study every day and to get up to speed as much as I can as I prepare for freedom.
Ross
Similarly, on November 12, 2024, Ross thanked Trump, saying he could finally see light after 11 years of darkness.
Ulbricht wrote a letter to Biden asking for a presidential pardon
In 2013, Ulbricht was arrested, with officials having to close his Silk Road and seize over 174000 Bitcoin. Ulbricht was then charged with operating a criminal enterprise, conspiracy to money laundering and computer hacking, and identity fraud.
In May 2015, he received a life sentence despite pleading for leniency. Years later, Ross wrote to President Joe Biden asking for pardon. He claimed he started the Silk Road with good intentions and simply pushed for his libertarian beliefs.
He also promised to remain law-abiding when released. However, President Biden never acted on the letter. Perhaps with Trump, Ross could have a better chance of earning freedom.
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