Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht has begun his 12th year in prison, sharing his resolve to make the most of his time. Former President Donald Trump pledged once again on Wednesday to “save” Ulbricht, a promise that reopens old wounds and sparks debates over crypto and justice.

On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump declared, “I WILL SAVE ROSS ULBRICHT!” on Truth Social, reviving interest in Ulbricht's story and the platform that defined Bitcoin’s early use. 

Ulbricht’s case, tied to the rise and fall of Silk Road—a marketplace that thrust Bitcoin into the mainstream—has always polarized opinions. 

Trump's pledge brings back to life debates over government overreach and the vision of decentralization that the Silk Road once embodied.

This isn't Trump's first show of support. In May 2024, he told attendees at the Libertarian National Convention that he would commute Ulbricht’s life sentence “on day one” if re-elected, sparking cheers from the crowd waving “Free Ross” signs. 

Ulbricht, responding to the rare moment of optimism, tweeted, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you... After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment.” Yet, the crypto community remains divided. 

Trump’s vow to pardon Ulbricht has sparked differing opinions—some view it as a genuine push for justice, while others see it as a calculated move to win favor with libertarian and crypto supporters in his 2024 presidential bid.

Silk Road, launched in 2011, was an unprecedented darknet marketplace that used Bitcoin as its primary currency to enable anonymous transactions, mostly for illegal goods and services. 

The Silk Road made Bitcoin a household name, displaying its use for decentralized payments but also tarnishing its reputation as a currency linked to crime. 

Operated under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht was arrested in 2013, his laptop seized by the FBI, and was subsequently sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years in 2015. 

Many libertarians and crypto advocates argue that Ross’s life sentence was overly punitive. They see it not only as punishment for running the Silk Road but as an attack on the principles of decentralized finance.

The Presidential candidate’s recent support for Ulbricht fits his pro-crypto rhetoric; at the same Libertarian event, Trump pledged to “keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your Bitcoin,” a notable turnaround from his earlier critiques of cryptocurrencies, which he once labeled as risky and fraudulent.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair