On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road, an anonymous online marketplace known for using cryptocurrency to facilitate transactions. Trump had pledged during his campaign to take this action “on Day 1” if elected.

BREAKING: Here's the first image of Ross Ulbricht leaving prison as a free man 🧡 pic.twitter.com/j2vYeypmDs

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 22, 2025

“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” Trump shared in a social media post. He also criticized those responsible for Ulbricht’s conviction, describing them as “the scum that worked to convict him” and accusing them of being aligned with what he called the “modern-day weaponization of government” against him. Trump condemned the harshness of Ulbricht’s punishment, which included two life sentences plus an additional 40 years, calling it “ridiculous.”

Ulbricht’s website, launched in 2011, gained notoriety for enabling the sale of illegal drugs through cryptocurrency payments. Although Ulbricht himself did not directly sell any drugs, he was convicted based on what others did on his platform.

In May, Trump addressed the Libertarian National Convention, seeking to win over skeptical Libertarian voters who have long viewed the Silk Road case as an example of government overreach. Although Trump was met with boos during much of the event, his promise to commute Ulbricht’s sentence to time served was met with loud applause. The crowd chanted “Free Ross” as Trump pledged to secure Ulbricht’s release if elected, emphasizing the founder’s more than a decade behind bars.

“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 going to get him home,” Trump declared to attendees, many of whom held “Free Ross” signs in support.

Ulbricht expressed his gratitude following Trump’s comments, writing on the social media platform X, “Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. 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.”

Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

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.

— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 26, 2024

Just last month, Ulbricht shared a resolution to “study every day” and prepare for life outside of prison as he anticipated his release.

Trump later reaffirmed his commitment to Ulbricht’s cause during a bitcoin conference, drawing loud cheers from attendees. While he did not act on the pledge on his first day back in office, Trump signed the pardon on his second day, officially ending Ulbricht’s life sentence.

Now 40 years old, Ulbricht ran the Silk Road from its inception in 2011 until his arrest in 2013. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015, a sentence that critics have widely deemed excessive.