Last year on May 25, Donald Trump made a promise to commute the sentence of early Bitcoin pioneer and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht to time served if elected president. With Trump set to take office in a week, the Bitcoin community is eagerly awaiting to see if he will follow through on his pledge.
Many believe that Trump will indeed pardon Ross and release him from prison. Trump has shown consistent support for the Bitcoin industry, and there is no indication that he would renege on his promise. Given the ease with which Trump could grant Ross clemency, it seems likely that Ross will soon be a free man once again.
Ross, who has been in prison since 2013 for creating the Silk Road website, is already preparing for his potential release. His wife, who currently runs his social media accounts, recently shared that Ross is studying daily and getting ready for his freedom.
Ross was sentenced to double life plus 40 years without parole, despite being a non-violent, first-time offender. He was not prosecuted for causing harm or bodily injury, and no specific victim was named in his trial. While Ross was held accountable for the activities of users on Silk Road, he did not personally engage in any illegal transactions.
In 2022, Ross wrote a letter to President Biden requesting clemency, but his plea was ignored. Now, with Trump’s presidency on the horizon, Ross has a renewed hope of being pardoned and released.
Ross himself believes that Trump will fulfill his promise, expressing gratitude to those who voted for the president. He is optimistic about the prospect of finally regaining his freedom after over a decade behind bars.
As we await Trump’s decision, the Bitcoin community eagerly anticipates Ross’ potential return home. The outcome of this situation will have significant implications for both Ross and the broader cryptocurrency industry.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.