Ross Ulbricht Breaks Silence After 11 Years Pardoned

Ross Ulbricht Breaks Silence After 11 Years, Thanks Supporters and President Trump

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace, has made his first public statement in over 11 years. On January 24, Ulbricht took to social media platform X to express his gratitude to President Donald Trump, who recently granted him a full pardon.

Ulbricht thanked his supporters, stating that his pardon is not just a victory for him, but for everyone who has stood by him. He emphasized the importance of second chances and appreciated the outpouring of love and support he has received.

Background on Silk Road and Ross Ulbricht’s Case

Silk Road was a secret online marketplace that operated on the Tor network, facilitating the anonymous buying and selling of illicit goods and services using Bitcoin. Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after being convicted of multiple counts, including conspiracy to engage in a racketeering enterprise, money laundering, and hacking of computers.

The Ross Ulbricht Token and Its Price Fluctuations

A cryptocurrency token bearing a similar name to Ulbricht’s was launched in June 2024. The ROSS token experienced a significant surge in price, reaching as high as $0.04243 on January 22, 2025, the day Ulbricht was pardoned. However, the token’s price has since dipped, marking a bearish phase after almost three months of being bullish.

Ulbricht’s Crypto Holdings and Forfeited Assets

At the time of his arrest, Ulbricht held over 144,000 BTCs. However, nearly $184 million was forfeited by the court, resulting in government auctions of the BTCs. The U.S. Marshals Service disposed of the BTCs in 2014, raising $48 million. The FBI wallet that sold Ulbricht’s crypto now has a balance of nearly $129,000.

Although Ulbricht has been pardoned, it is unlikely that he will recover his forfeited assets, as the law does not retroactively return property once the proceeds have been spent.

Support from the Crypto Community

Despite this, the crypto community has rallied around Ulbricht, showing their support. Kraken Exchange donated approximately $111,111 in BTC to Ulbricht to help him get back on his feet.

“All of us at Kraken want to make sure that after what you’ve been through, you’re able to land on your feet with the support of the community that loves you most, the ₿itcoin community.”

Ulbricht’s pardon and the subsequent reaction from the crypto community highlight the complex and often contentious relationship between cryptocurrencies and the law.

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