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In a significant political move, U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious Silk Road online marketplace. Ulbricht, who has been serving a life sentence since 2015 for crimes including the distribution of illegal drugs and money laundering, gained Trump's attention as part of a campaign promise to address what he deemed excessive government overreach.
Silk Road, launched in 2011, facilitated over $200 million in transactions involving illicit goods and services, primarily using bitcoin for anonymity. Ulbricht operated the marketplace under the alias "Dread Pirate Roberts" and was known for taking drastic measures to protect it, including allegedly soliciting murders—although no evidence confirmed that any were carried out.
The pardon follows a formal announcement by Trump in May, where he expressed support for Ulbricht during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention. The Libertarian Party has long advocated for Ulbricht's release, arguing his case exemplifies governmental overreach in combating drugs.
The decision is expected to shift regulatory approaches towards the cryptocurrency industry, reversing some policies set during the previous Biden administration. Trump's comments following the pardon criticized those who pursued charges against Ulbricht, indicating a contentious view on the broader implications of policy enforcement in the digital age.
Ulbricht’s case has sparked ongoing debates about privacy, freedom in online marketplaces, and the limits of government authority, with advocates citing it as a call for reform in drug policy and criminal justice.