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Last year, on May 25, Donald Trump promised to commute the time served of Bitcoin pioneer and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht if elected president. As we all know, Trump won the election and will take office a week from today.
This leaves an important question in the minds of Bitcoiners: Will Trump really pardon Ross?
I believe Trump will keep his word 100% and release Ross from prison. I haven’t seen anything to suggest Trump would do differently and I’ve only seen things that make me confident he will keep this promise. It should be relatively easy for Trump, and given his continued support of the Bitcoin industry, I’m confident that Ross will soon walk a free man again.
Judging by Ross’s X account, currently run by his wife, he is preparing to leave prison soon.
“For my final monthly resolution of 2024, I intend to study every day and update myself as much as possible as I prepare for freedom,” he 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 items by transacting in bitcoin. He was a nonviolent offender, first sentenced to double life in prison plus 40 years without parole. At Ross’ trial, he was not prosecuted for causing harm or bodily harm and no victims were named. Although Ross was not prosecuted for selling drugs or illegal items, he was found responsible for what others listed on Silk Road, including drugs.
Now, 12 years later, the time has come for Ross to be set free.
In 2022, Ross wrote President Biden a letter asking to be pardoned, in which he explained that he did not create the website with bad intentions and was simply promoting the libertarian ideology he believed in. He also shared that if released, he would not do so. do anything to “break the law” again.
President Biden ignored the letter and kept him in prison. And now President Trump has the chance to let him live the rest of his life as a free man.
Ross himself also believes that Trump will keep his promise.
Immense gratitude to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust that he will keep his promise and give me a second chance.
After more than 11 years in the darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. A thousand thanks, @realDonaldTrump 🙏
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) November 12, 2024
I can’t wait to see Ross come home.
This article is a Take. The opinions expressed are entirely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.