President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, after years of advocacy from cryptocurrency supporters. Ulbricht, sentenced to life in 2015 for drug trafficking crimes through Silk Road, generated significant revenue and transactions. Despite his conviction, he has been viewed as a cult hero in libertarian and crypto circles. Trump’s decision reflects his connection to the cryptocurrency industry, which sought to influence his presidency, contributing over $100 million to political causes. This pardon aligns with Trump’s previous campaign promises and criticism of the justice system targeting him and Ulbricht.
Despite his crimes, Mr. Ulbricht has remained popular with crypto enthusiasts because Silk Road was one of the first venues where people used Bitcoin to buy and sell goods.
In court, prosecutors claimed that Mr. Ulbricht had also solicited the murders of people whom he considered threats but acknowledged there was no evidence that the killings took place.
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