"Pardoned Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Enters U.S. Politics"
1min read The pardoned founder of the Silk Road, ross Ulbricht, appears to be increasingly involved in U.S. politics. After spending over 11 years in prison for his role in the darknet marketplace, Ulbricht has made several public appearances since his release in January, following a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
On March 4, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie announced that he had invited Ulbricht to attend a joint session of the U.S. Congress, where President Trump delivered a speech on his administration's policies. This marked one of Ulbricht's first public appearances since his release from prison.
Ulbricht has been active on social media since leaving prison, expressing gratitude towards Trump and advocating for clemency for "Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver, who faces tax evasion charges. Some speculated that Ulbricht could be invited to a March 7 crypto summit at the White House, but he was not listed as an official guest at the time of publication.
Ulbricht founded the Silk Road marketplace on the dark web in 2011, allowing users to buy and sell illegal drugs and unlawful goods and services. He was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2015. His supporters petitioned for a presidential pardon, which ultimately led to his release.
Trump's decision to pardon Ulbricht has sparked debate and controversy. While some view it as a nod to the Trump administration's work on criminal justice reform, others criticize the pardon, arguing that Ulbricht's actions on Silk Road were harmful and deserving of the original sentence.
Ulbricht's pardon was not the only controversial move by the Trump administration regarding cryptocurrency and online markets. The administration also dropped cases against several cryptocurrency exchanges, including coinbase, TRON, Gemini, and Kraken. These moves have been criticized by some in the crypto community, who argue that they have created a double standard for the industry.
Despite the controversy surrounding his pardon, Ulbricht has been actively involved in politics since his release. He has spoken out on various issues, including criminal justice reform and the use of cryptocurrency. His presence at the joint session of Congress is just one example of his growing involvement in U.S. politics.
As Ulbricht continues to make waves in the political sphere, it remains to 