Freedom ! January 20, 2025 will be a milestone in the history of cryptocurrencies. Not only was Donald Trump inaugurated for a second term in the White House, but above all he signed an executive order, among many others, which puts an end to a decade of incarceration deemed unjust by the entire crypto community. Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, is now a free man.
- Donald Trump granted a presidential pardon to Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, on the day of his inauguration for a second term.
- Ulbricht’s release sparked a strong reaction of joy within the crypto community, marking a historic turning point in the perception of cryptocurrencies.
A presidential pardon for Ross Ulbricht
In an announcement that had the effect of a bomb on social networks, Donald Trump declared that he had granted “complete and unconditional forgiveness” to Ross Ulbricht. The President even took the time to call Ulbricht’s mother to tell her the news, emphasizing in passing the support given to him by the libertarian movement, very present in the pro-Bitcoin sphere.
“I just called Ross William Ulbricht’s mother to let her know that in her honor and in honor of the Libertarian Movement, which has supported me so strongly, I had the pleasure of signing a total and unconditional pardon for his son, Ross. The scum who worked to convict him were the same lunatics who participated in the modern-day use of government as a weapon against me. He was sentenced to two life sentences, plus 40 years in prison. Ridiculous !”
Donald Trump, President of the United States – Source: Truth Social
Ross Ulbricht is free!
The reaction of the Ulbricht family was not long in coming. On X, the campaign account Free Ross expressed immense gratitude to Trump, calling him“man of his word”. “ROSS IS A FREE MAN!!! »we can read in the tweet, reflecting the emotion of a legal battle which lasted more than 10 years.
« Ross has just been granted a full and unconditional pardon by Donald Trump. Words cannot express how grateful we are. President Trump is a man of his word and he just saved Ross’s life. ROSS IS A FREE MAN!!!!! »
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Silk Road or when freedom goes against the grain
As a reminder, Ross Ulbricht was sentenced to two life sentences, plus 40 yearswithout the possibility of parole. His crime? Having created and operated Silk Road, a darknet black market that used Bitcoin to facilitate transactions of illegal products, including narcotics. Arrested in 2013 and convicted in 2015, Ulbricht had unwillingly become a symbol of the fight for Internet freedom.
Silk Road, although controversial, played a major role in the early adoption of Bitcoin. The platform showed the world that cryptocurrency could be used for anonymous and borderless transactions, although, unfortunately, it was often for illegal activities. The American authorities had also seized around 174,000 BTC when the site closed, a colossal sum which has since been partly sold at auction.
The news of Ulbricht’s release was greeted with joy by the crypto community. Personalities like Erik Voorhees et Michael Goldstein welcomed Trump’s decision, recalling the importance of Silk Road in the history of Bitcoin. Amir Taakianother iconic crypto figure, said: “I owe everything to Ross Ulbricht. Crypto changed my life. She became great thanks to him. He made the ultimate sacrifice. We all benefited from his work. »
By releasing Ross Ulbricht, Donald Trump kept one of his most symbolic campaign promises for the crypto community. Although this decision will not fail to cause debate, it nevertheless marks a turning point in the perception of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, which are gradually emerging from the shadow of their sulphurous past. As Trump begins his second term, the question remains what his next moves will be to support an industry he has promised to cherish.
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