Overview

• 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.