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Monday, Feb 23, 2026
Outside the box.
Ross Ulbricht's Fate Remains Uncertain as Trump Begins Second Term
Despite campaign promises to commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence, no action has been taken as of January 20, 2025.
As of January 20, 2025, the fate of Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road darknet marketplace, remains unresolved concerning a potential pardon or commutation by President Donald Trump.
Ulbricht is serving a double life sentence without parole for his role in operating Silk Road, which facilitated illegal activities, including drug sales, on the darknet.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht's sentence to time served, explicitly making this promise at the Libertarian National Convention and the Bitcoin Conference.
These commitments were perceived as efforts to appeal to libertarian and cryptocurrency communities, which have shown strong support for Ulbricht's release.
However, no pardon or commutation has been granted to Ulbricht as of the first day of Trump's second term.
Reports indicate that the president focused on signing executive orders during his inauguration day, leaving Ulbricht's case unaddressed.
Prediction markets such as Kalshi estimate a 79% likelihood of Trump granting Ulbricht a pardon within his first 100 days in office, reflecting optimism among Ulbricht's supporters.
Nonetheless, skepticism persists due to Trump's inaction on this matter during his first term, despite previous deliberations.
The case has drawn attention to broader issues, including criminal justice reform, digital rights, and government overreach.
Many view Ulbricht's sentence as disproportionately harsh for a non-violent crime, arguing that it exemplifies the need for reform.
Critics, however, emphasize the serious nature of the crimes facilitated through Silk Road, which included the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods.
Ulbricht's case continues to generate debate within political, legal, and public spheres.
Advocates for his release argue that commuting his sentence could set a new precedent for addressing non-violent digital crimes, while opponents stress the importance of accountability for actions that have widespread societal impacts.
For now, the decision on Ulbricht's fate lies with the Trump administration.
Ulbricht is serving a double life sentence without parole for his role in operating Silk Road, which facilitated illegal activities, including drug sales, on the darknet.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht's sentence to time served, explicitly making this promise at the Libertarian National Convention and the Bitcoin Conference.
These commitments were perceived as efforts to appeal to libertarian and cryptocurrency communities, which have shown strong support for Ulbricht's release.
However, no pardon or commutation has been granted to Ulbricht as of the first day of Trump's second term.
Reports indicate that the president focused on signing executive orders during his inauguration day, leaving Ulbricht's case unaddressed.
Prediction markets such as Kalshi estimate a 79% likelihood of Trump granting Ulbricht a pardon within his first 100 days in office, reflecting optimism among Ulbricht's supporters.
Nonetheless, skepticism persists due to Trump's inaction on this matter during his first term, despite previous deliberations.
The case has drawn attention to broader issues, including criminal justice reform, digital rights, and government overreach.
Many view Ulbricht's sentence as disproportionately harsh for a non-violent crime, arguing that it exemplifies the need for reform.
Critics, however, emphasize the serious nature of the crimes facilitated through Silk Road, which included the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit goods.
Ulbricht's case continues to generate debate within political, legal, and public spheres.
Advocates for his release argue that commuting his sentence could set a new precedent for addressing non-violent digital crimes, while opponents stress the importance of accountability for actions that have widespread societal impacts.
For now, the decision on Ulbricht's fate lies with the Trump administration.
