Elon Musk Says Ross Ulbricht Will Receive Presidential Pardon
Elon Musk’s latest comment on X has reignited discussions about Ross Ulbricht’s fate.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump explicitly vowed to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office.
However, no official pardon materialized on Inauguration Day, leaving supporters in suspense.
On Polymarket, 99% of participants believe Trump will pardon Ulbricht within his first 100 days.
Billionaire entrepreneur has ignited fresh speculation about a potential presidential pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace. On January 21, 2025, Musk responded to a user’s comment on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that “Ross will be freed too”.
His has fueled hopes among Ulbricht’s supporters that will follow through on his long-standing promise to grant clemency.
Trump’s Campaign Promise
During his campaign in May 2024, Trump had pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office.
“If you vote for me, on Day 1, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht to a sentence of time served. He’s already served 11 years, we’re gonna get him home,” he said.
Despite this promise, no official pardon was issued on Inauguration Day. However, Angela McArdle, chair of the Libertarian National Committee, announced that President Trump’s staff confirmed Ulbricht’s pardon would be issued late on January 21 or the following morning.
Pres. Trump’s staff just confirmed to me Ross’s pardon will be issued late tonight or tomorrow morning. ❤️
— Angela McArdle (@angela4LNCChair) January 21, 2025
Pres. Trump’s staff just confirmed to me Ross’s pardon will be issued late tonight or tomorrow morning. ❤️
— Angela McArdle (@angela4LNCChair)
Ross Ulbricht, operating under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts”, founded the Silk Road in 2011, an online black market on the dark web that facilitated the sale of illicit goods, including drugs, using Bitcoin as the primary payment method.
On October 1, 2013, Ulbricht was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at a public library in San Francisco.
In February 2015, after a four-week trial, he was convicted on seven charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit computer hacking, and conspiracy to traffic narcotics. On May 29, 2015, US District Judge Katherine B. Forrest sentenced Ulbricht to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Controversy and Advocacy for Pardon
Ulbricht’s sentencing has been a subject of controversy, with many arguing that his punishment was excessively harsh compared to others involved in similar crimes. Supporters, including libertarians and crypto advocates, have long campaigned for a presidential pardon, contending that he was unfairly punished as a first-time, non-violent offender.
The anticipation of a pardon has intensified following President Trump’s inauguration, with prediction markets estimating a high probability of Ulbricht’s release.
Data from Polymarket that 99% of participants believe Trump will grant Ulbricht a pardon within his first 100 days in office. Additionally, bettors are speculating on a potential pardon for Roger Ver, a well-known Bitcoin Cash (BCH) proponent, and early Bitcoin investor, who was charged with tax fraud in April 2024. The market currently assigns a 32% probability of Ver receiving clemency within the same timeframe.
A Presidency Pardon
While the crypto community eagerly awaits Ulbricht’s pardon, President Trump has already an executive order granting clemency to 1,500 individuals connected to offenses related to the events at or near the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Trump made the announcement from the Oval Office yesterday during his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.