Donald Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht After 11 Years in Prison

The former president fulfilled a promise to libertarian supporters by granting clemency to the controversial dark web marketplace creator.

Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, was serving a life sentence for charges including narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
Donald Trump announced the pardon on Truth Social, citing Ulbricht's mother and libertarian ideals as key motivations for the decision.
The Silk Road facilitated the sale of illegal goods using bitcoin, with Ulbricht's supporters arguing it was a nonviolent experiment in free trade.
Prosecutors alleged Ulbricht arranged murders-for-hire, though these claims were never formally prosecuted and remain a point of contention.
The pardon underscores Trump's efforts to appeal to libertarian and cryptocurrency communities, where Ulbricht has become a prominent figure.