Trump Grants Full Pardon to Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he had granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious dark web marketplace Silk Road. The decision, first reported by The Washington Post, was shared by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“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 wrote. He criticized the prosecutors who convicted Ulbricht, calling them “scum” and accusing them of being involved in the “modern-day weaponization of government” against him.

Ulbricht, now 40, was arrested in October 2013 in San Francisco and accused of operating Silk Road under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts.” The site, which operated from 2011 to 2013, facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods using bitcoin as payment. Ulbricht was convicted in February 2015 on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years in prison.

Trump had previously vowed in May 2024 to reduce Ulbricht’s sentence to “time served” if reelected. His campaign promise resonated with Libertarian voters, who view Ulbricht as a symbol of free markets and oppose the War on Drugs. At the Libertarian National Convention in May, attendees chanted “Free Ross” as Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) also advocated for Ulbricht’s release, sending a letter to Trump on Tuesday urging him to follow through on his promise. “Mr. Ulbricht is serving two life sentences plus forty years without parole for nonviolent offenses related to the website he launched in early 2011,” Paul wrote. “Like so many others, I am shocked by the harsh sentence imposed on this first-time offender.”

Ulbricht’s case has been a rallying cry for Libertarians and cryptocurrency advocates, who argue that his punishment was disproportionate to his crimes. Despite Trump’s initial failure to act on his promise during his first day back in office, sources close to the White House confirmed that the pardon was imminent. Libertarian Party chair Angela McArdle and Elon Musk, who serves in Trump’s administration, both expressed confidence that Ulbricht would be freed.

Ulbricht, who has spent over a decade in prison, expressed gratitude for the support he has received. “After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment,” he wrote on social media following Trump’s campaign pledge. “It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.”

Trump’s decision to pardon Ulbricht marks a significant moment in his administration’s relationship with the Libertarian movement and highlights the ongoing debate over criminal justice reform and the role of government in regulating online markets.