Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht (BTC) May Receive Pardon if Trump Wins Re-Election

<ul>
  <li>Donald J. Trump has vowed to commute the life sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to time served if he is re-elected as president.</li>
  <li>Earlier that day, Trump said he supports the cryptocurrency industry.</li>
  <li>Trump’s promise to free Ulbricht was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience, many of whom held signs reading “Free Ross.”</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Trump pledges to commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence and support the cryptocurrency industry if re-elected.</strong></p>
<h2><strong>Trump Vows to Commute Ross Ulbricht's Sentence</strong></h2>
<p>Donald J. Trump has made a bold promise to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, to time served if he is re-elected as president. During his address at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., Trump stated, “If you vote for me, on Day 1, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht to a sentence of time served.” Ulbricht, who has already served 11 years, was sentenced in 2015 to two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years for creating and operating Silk Road, a darknet marketplace primarily used for drug transactions from 2011 to 2013.</p>
<h3><strong>Trump's Support for the Cryptocurrency Industry</strong></h3>
<p>In addition to his pledge regarding Ulbricht, Trump expressed strong support for the cryptocurrency 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.” Trump criticized President Joe Biden, claiming that Biden “wants [the cryptocurrency industry] to die a slow and painful death. That will never happen with me!”</p>
<h3><strong>Reaction from the Crypto and Libertarian Communities</strong></h3>
<p>Trump’s promise to free Ulbricht was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience at the Libertarian National Convention, many of whom held signs reading “Free Ross.” Ulbricht has become a martyr for many in the crypto and libertarian communities, who view his harsh sentence as an overreach by the government and a violation of his constitutional rights. In 2018, the Libertarian Party urged then-President Trump to pardon Ulbricht. However, before leaving office in January 2021, Trump did not offer clemency to Ulbricht, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, or whistleblower Edward Snowden.</p>
<h2><strong>Trump's Criticism of Biden's Crypto Policies</strong></h2>
<p>At the convention, Trump also criticized Biden’s stance on cryptocurrency, promising to “stop Joe Biden’s crusade to crush crypto.” He declared, “I will ensure that the future of crypto and the future of Bitcoin will be made in the USA, not driven overseas. I will support the right to self-custody.” Addressing the nation’s fifty million crypto holders, Trump vowed, “I will keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your Bitcoin, and I will never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency.”</p>
<h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3>
<p>Trump's promises to commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence and support the cryptocurrency industry have garnered significant attention and support from the crypto and libertarian communities. His criticism of Biden's policies and his commitment to ensuring the future of cryptocurrency in the USA resonate with many crypto enthusiasts. As the 2024 election approaches, Trump's stance on these issues will likely continue to be a focal point for his campaign and a topic of interest for voters.</p>