As the 2024 US presidential election draws near, the candidates are making their best moves in what could be their last attempts at securing more potential voters for themselves. Trump seems very dedicated to securing crypto voters, as he has now openly committed to saving an imprisoned crypto figure.
The first of October marked the start of Ross Ulbricht’s 12th year in prison. The online black market Silk Road founder acknowledged his imprisonment anniversary on his X account, stating his intention to make the most of his experience and use his time wisely.
Here it is. The start of my 12th year in prison today.
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) October 1, 2024
I intend to make the most of it and use my time wisely.
While Ulbricht seems to have made peace with his situation, Donald Trump has reassured Americans that he will be the one to save the founder of the darknet marketplace. The former President boldly committed to his promise of releasing Ulbricht on his Truth Social account, where he emphasized his plan to save Ross Ulbricht.
NEW – President Trump reaffirms his pledge to commute the life sentence of libertarian hero Ross Ulbricht, who remains imprisoned for creating the online drug marketplace, Silk Road; "I WILL SAVE ROSS ULBRICHT!" pic.twitter.com/ptqTENm9Tx
— Overton (@overton_news) October 3, 2024
Trump’s post and declaration have revived public interest in the largely forgotten case of the long-imprisoned Ulbricht. He was arrested and imprisoned in a case related to the fall and shutdown of the popular marketplace Silk Road, which many people regard as one of the early catalysts for Bitcoin’s mainstream use.
Although the Ulbricht case is very polarizing in public opinion, Trump looks pretty committed to getting him out of prison, and this is not the first time he has stated that intention. In May 2024, Trump told the attendees of the Libertarian National Convention that should he get re-elected, he would commute Ulbricht’s life sentence, as many people cheered and waved “Free Ross” signs.
The declaration from Trump at the time inspired some optimism in Ulbricht, who expressed his appreciation and couldn’t word his feelings at the moment. But while some cheer for Ulbricht's release, many are not stoked about it.
Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 26, 2024
After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.
Some in the crypto community see Trump’s intention to free Ulbricht as an action in the interest of justice for the man. In contrast, others see it as a cunning, calculated move by Trump to secure many crypto and libertarian supporters in the upcoming elections.
Silk Road, Ulbricht’s invention, is largely credited with making Bitcoin a household name. The darknet marketplace was launched in 2011, and while it was open, it used Bitcoin as its primary currency to enable anonymous transactions. However, many of those transactions were for illegal goods and services.
Ulbricht, operating under the pseudonym “Dead Pirate Roberts” at the time, was arrested in 2013 and was sentenced in 2015 to two life terms with an addition of 40 years.
Many libertarians argued that Ross’s life sentence was too much for his offenses, considering it a punishment for Ulbricht and DeFi in general. As we await the election, Trump might have gotten a new group of supporters, but if he eventually wins, all eyes will be on him.
Abimbola Adu
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