Former U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht if he wins the upcoming November election.
“If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht,” Trump announced at the Libertarian Party’s National Convention in Washington on May 25. “He’s already served 11 years, we’re going to get him home,” he added.
Silk Road, launched in 2011, was operated by Ulbricht under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.” The FBI seized his laptop on October 1, 2013, and Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 on multiple charges related to the Silk Road’s operations. He received a sentence of two life terms plus forty years without the possibility of parole.
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Trump also highlighted his support for cryptocurrency, a shift from his previous critical stance on digital assets earlier this year. “I will ensure that the future of crypto and Bitcoin is built in the USA, not pushed overseas,” he said, pledging to protect those who hold crypto outside centralized exchanges.
“I will defend the right to self-custody for the nation’s 50 million crypto holders. With your vote, I’ll keep Elizabeth Warren and her allies away from your Bitcoin,” he added, marking a significant change from his previous comments labeling Bitcoin a scam during his presidency.
More to Trump’s Pro-Crypto stance
Former President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for cryptocurrency self-custody and has pledged to prevent the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Trump has promised to protect the rights of individuals to hold their crypto assets outside of centralized exchanges, stating that he will safeguard the interests of the nation’s 50 million crypto holders. Additionally, he vowed to oppose the implementation of a CBDC, aligning his stance with the pro-crypto community and positioning himself against increasing governmental control over digital currencies.
