Ulbritch would be freed if Trump signs an executive order pardoning him.
Trump has already signed several executive orders, but none linked to Ulbritch.
Elon Musk reported via X, this Monday night, that the founder of Silk Road, Ross Ulbritch, would be released by executive order from Donald Trump.
In a short commentMusk made it clear that Trump would pardon Ulbritch, who is currently serving two life sentences. “Ross will also be released,” Musk, head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wrote in his post, indicating a clear expectation about the president’s action.
Ross Ulbritch is known for creating and operating Silk Road, a darknet marketplace that facilitated the sale of drugs and other illegal products using bitcoin as a payment method.
His arrest in 2013 and subsequent sentence in 2015 to two life sentences plus 40 years without the possibility of parole, made him a central figure in the discussion about criminal justice and cryptocurrency regulation.
Ulbritch is seen by many in the Bitcoin community as a pioneer in the use of this digital currencyas Silk Road was one of the first sites to adopt BTC for anonymous transactions, boosting its popularity and usage.
Musk’s announcement comes amid confusion in the Bitcoin community, as in the first executive orders signed by Trump since his inauguration there was no mention of Ulbritch’s release.
The promise to free Ulbritch has been one of Trump’s most resonant towards the Bitcoin ecosystem, especially after, during his election campaign in May 2024, Trump promised that, if elected, he would commute Ulbritch’s sentence on the first day of his mandate.
This promise was made during a Libertarian Party convention, where Trump He tried to attract votes from this community by promising criminal justice reforms and the legalization of certain substances, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
Musk’s statement, although brief, has revitalized interest and hope among Ulbritch’s followers and within the Bitcoin community, who see in this possible action by Trump not only an act of clemency, but also a recognition of the role that bitcoin has played in the digital economy and financial freedom.
The community hopes that this pardon will materialize soon, closely watching President Trump’s next actions, who has shown an inclination towards cryptocurrency-friendly policiespromising to protect the right to self-custody and ensure that the future of Bitcoin is made in the United States.