Donald J. Trump has pledged to commute Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht’s life sentence to time served if he’s re-elected president. Ulbricht has served 11 years of his sentence of two life terms plus 40 years for creating the darknet marketplace.
Trump’s Promise to Free Ulbricht
“If you vote for me, on Day 1, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht to a sentence of time served,” Trump said during his Saturday night remarks at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C. “He’s already served 11 years, we’re gonna get him home.” The announcement was met with raucous cheers from the audience, many holding signs reading “Free Ross.”
Support for Cryptocurrency
Hours before his remarks, Trump took to social media to praise the crypto industry. Writing on Truth Social, he stated, “I am very positive and open minded to cryptocurrency companies, and all things related to this new and burgeoning industry. Our country must be the leader in the field. There is no second place.” He criticized President Joe Biden, saying Biden “wants [the cryptocurrency industry] to die a slow and painful death. That will never happen with me!”
Background on Ross Ulbricht
In 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years for creating and operating Silk Road, a darknet marketplace used primarily for drugs. The platform operated from 2011 to 2013 and is considered the first real-world use case for Bitcoin. Ulbricht has become a martyr for many in the crypto and Libertarian communities, who see his sentence as a governmental overreach.
Trump’s Clemency Record
Before his presidency ended in January 2021, Trump granted clemency to 143 individuals, pardoning 73 and commuting the sentences of 70 others. However, he did not offer clemency to Ulbricht, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, or Edward Snowden. Trump’s new pledge to free Ulbricht is seen as a significant move to gain support from the crypto community.
Additional Comments on Crypto
During his address, Trump also commented on the future of cryptocurrency, stating he would “stop Joe Biden’s crusade to crush crypto.” He pledged to ensure that the future of crypto and Bitcoin would be made in the USA and supported the right to self-custody. He assured the nation’s fifty million crypto holders that he would protect their interests and prevent the creation of a central bank digital currency.
Trump’s pledge to commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence and his strong pro-crypto stance have resonated with many in the crypto community. As the first major party presidential candidate to accept crypto donations, Trump’s commitment to supporting cryptocurrency could significantly impact his 2024 campaign.
