Trump pardoned Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road.

The infamous dark web market served as a global hub for illegal drugs, which prosecutors say led to the deaths of at least six people.

Ulbricht, 40, has been serving life in prison without the possibility of parole since 2015 after being convicted in federal court on seven charges which included drug distribution and conspiracy to commit computer hacking attacks.

“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement that has supported me so strongly, I have just been pleased to sign a full and unconditional pardon for her son Ross.” Trump wrote in a post at Truth Social.

Silk Road, which operated from 2011 to 2013, served as a marketplace where users bought and sold various contraband goods, including illegal drugs such as heroin. Platform sales totaled more than $200 millionaccording to the federal prosecutor’s office.

At its peak, the Silk Road functioned as a global narcotics bazaar, where transactions were mainly carried out bitcoin. This made it one of the earliest large-scale applications of cryptocurrency.

Prosecutors later argued that the anonymity provided by bitcoin allowed Silk Road vendors to mask their identities.

In his pardon announcement on Tuesday, Trump called the federal prosecutors involved in Ulbricht’s case “scum,” linking them to his recent federal and state criminal prosecutions. “He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. It’s funny!” Trump added.

In the digital currency community, Ulbricht is seen as a visionary who initiated the early adoption of Bitcoin. Campaigns to “Free Ross” have gained momentum in recent years with rallies and online petitions.

When Trump decided to join the crypto community during his 2024 presidential campaign, it opened a window for Ulbricht.

Days after Trump was elected president in November, Ulbricht thanked “everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf.” message on X that he dictated to his wife from prison.