After more than a decade in prison, Ross Ulbricht dark web marketplace creator silk road, He will be free on January 30 thanks to Trump’s promise. The news marks a historic chapter in the fight against digital crime.
Let’s see all the details in this article.
From Trump’s promise to reality: Ross Ulbricht will be free on January 30
As anticipated, Ross Ulbricht, known as the founder of Silk Road, the famous and controversial drug market on the dark web, will be launched on January 30 after 11 years in prison.
His release represents a momentous moment, not only for the world of digital crime, but also for the libertarian and cryptocurrency communities, which have been demanding his freedom for years.
Ulbricht’s release comes after a promise from the former president donald trump during his election campaign.
At the Libertarian National Convention last May, Trump declared that he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence on the first day of his term, earning applause from many libertarian supporters.
Now, a few weeks after taking office, that promise is becoming a reality.
Ulbricht, arrested in 2013 and sentenced in 2015 on seven charges related to money laundering, computer system breaches and drug trafficking, had been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
A penalty considered by many to be excessive, especially if we compare it with those of other similar cases.
Ulbricht’s mother, Lyn, has led an unprecedented media campaign over the years, using the slogan “Free Ross” to increase public awareness and collect more than 600,000 signatures on a petition for his release.
Silk Road: revolution or crime?
Launched in 2011, Silk Road was the first dark web marketplace to leverage bitcoin to guarantee the anonymity of users.
For two and a half years, the platform became the main reference point for illegal trade, allowing the sale of drugs, false documents and money laundering services.
Ulbricht, under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” managed the site with an anarcho-capitalist vision, defending forms of crime that he defined as “victimless.”
His figure remains controversial: for some, a revolutionary who tries to reduce violence linked to drug trafficking, for others, a criminal who indirectly contributed to overdoses and deaths.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Ulbricht had ordered six contract killings to protect the platform, but no murder charges were filed.
The impact of the launch.
The news of Ulbricht’s release has provoked mixed reactions. On the one hand, the libertarian world and the cryptocurrency community celebrate the victory, seeing it as a step towards a more equitable justice.
On the other hand, relatives of overdose victims denounce a decision that they consider a dangerous precedent.
Meanwhile, Ulbricht expressed his gratitude through a posted message on X (formerly Twitter), run by his wife:
“After more than 11 years of darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Thank you, President Trump, for this second chance.”
The launch of Ulbricht opens a new chapter in a story that has deeply marked the digital age. It remains to be seen how the former Silk Road administrator will take advantage of this second chance in his life.
