The pardon fulfills Donald Trump's campaign promise and comes with support from the Libertarian movement.
Ulbricht served a decade of his original sentence of 40 years plus two life terms.
Ross Ulbricht, the creator of infamous darknet marketplace Silk Road
U.S.
President Donald Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross
Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous darknet marketplace Silk Road, who had
been serving multiple life sentences for operating the platform that
facilitated over $200 million in illicit trade using Bitcoin (BTC).
Trump Pardons Silk Road
Founder Ross Ulbricht After Decade-Long Imprisonment
The
40-year-old Ulbricht, who had been imprisoned in Arizona, was arrested in 2013
and sentenced in 2015 for running what prosecutors described as a global black
market bazaar used by more than 100,000 people to trade illegal drugs and other
illicit services.
Trump
announced the decision on his Truth Social platform, criticizing those involved
in Ulbricht's conviction and highlighting support from the Libertarian movement.
The pardon fulfills a campaign promise Trump made during a speech at the
Libertarian National Convention.
“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
commented.
“The scum
that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in
the modern day weaponization of government against me,” he added.
Who Is Ross Ulbricht?
Ulbricht
operated Silk Road under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts” from 2011
to 2013, creating a platform that leveraged the Tor network for anonymous
communications and Bitcoin for payments. While his defense argued the site was
intended as a “freewheeling, free market site,” prosecutors alleged
Ulbricht took extreme measures to protect the operation, including allegedly
soliciting murders, though no evidence showed any were carried out.
Silk Road
was so popular in 2013 that it is speculated that 80% of all Bitcoin mined up
to that point (over 50% of the total supply of 21 million) had been involved
with the dark market founded by Ulbricht. In 2022, the U.S. seized $3.5 billion worth of Bitcoin allegedly linked to marketplace operations.
The
landmark prosecution came during the early days of cryptocurrency adoption,
with Ulbricht's case highlighting the intersection of digital currencies and
illicit activities. His original sentence included 40 years plus two life
terms, which Trump called “ridiculous” in his pardon announcement.
“I wanted to empower people to make choices in their lives and have privacy and anonymity,” Ulbricht said during his sentencing almost 10 years ago.
The verdict sparked significant controversy, and for years, a “Free Ross” campaign has been ongoing, gathering over 600,000 signatures on petitions.
Source: Freeross.org
“After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,” Ulbricht's clemency attorney, Brandon Sample, commented.
U.S.
President Donald Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross
Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous darknet marketplace Silk Road, who had
been serving multiple life sentences for operating the platform that
facilitated over $200 million in illicit trade using Bitcoin (BTC).
Trump Pardons Silk Road
Founder Ross Ulbricht After Decade-Long Imprisonment
The
40-year-old Ulbricht, who had been imprisoned in Arizona, was arrested in 2013
and sentenced in 2015 for running what prosecutors described as a global black
market bazaar used by more than 100,000 people to trade illegal drugs and other
illicit services.
Trump
announced the decision on his Truth Social platform, criticizing those involved
in Ulbricht's conviction and highlighting support from the Libertarian movement.
The pardon fulfills a campaign promise Trump made during a speech at the
Libertarian National Convention.
“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
commented.
“The scum
that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in
the modern day weaponization of government against me,” he added.
Who Is Ross Ulbricht?
Ulbricht
operated Silk Road under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts” from 2011
to 2013, creating a platform that leveraged the Tor network for anonymous
communications and Bitcoin for payments. While his defense argued the site was
intended as a “freewheeling, free market site,” prosecutors alleged
Ulbricht took extreme measures to protect the operation, including allegedly
soliciting murders, though no evidence showed any were carried out.
Silk Road
was so popular in 2013 that it is speculated that 80% of all Bitcoin mined up
to that point (over 50% of the total supply of 21 million) had been involved
with the dark market founded by Ulbricht. In 2022, the U.S. seized $3.5 billion worth of Bitcoin allegedly linked to marketplace operations.
The
landmark prosecution came during the early days of cryptocurrency adoption,
with Ulbricht's case highlighting the intersection of digital currencies and
illicit activities. His original sentence included 40 years plus two life
terms, which Trump called “ridiculous” in his pardon announcement.
“I wanted to empower people to make choices in their lives and have privacy and anonymity,” Ulbricht said during his sentencing almost 10 years ago.
The verdict sparked significant controversy, and for years, a “Free Ross” campaign has been ongoing, gathering over 600,000 signatures on petitions.
Source: Freeross.org
“After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,” Ulbricht's clemency attorney, Brandon Sample, commented.
Damian's adventure with financial markets began at the Cracow University of Economics, where he obtained his MA in finance and accounting. Starting from the retail trader perspective, he collaborated with brokerage houses and financial portals in Poland as an independent editor and content manager. His adventure with Finance Magnates began in 2016, where he is working as a business intelligence analyst.
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @Exness , a global multi-asset broker operating since 2008, known for fast withdrawals, flexible account types, and strong regulatory coverage across multiple regions.
We break down Exness’s regulatory framework, supported trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Exness Terminal, and the Exness Trade App, as well as available account types such as Standard, Pro, Zero, and Raw Spread.
You’ll also learn about Exness’s leverage options, fees and commissions, swap-free trading, available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, and what traders can expect in terms of execution, funding speed, and customer support.
Watch the full review to see whether Exness aligns with your trading goals and strategy.
👉 Explore Exness’s full broker listing on the Finance Magnates Directory:
https://directory.financemagnates.com/multi-asset-brokers/exness/
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
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▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Exness #ExnessReview #Forex #FinanceMagnates #ForexBroker #BrokerReview #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #MarketInsights
In this video, we take an in-depth look at @Exness , a global multi-asset broker operating since 2008, known for fast withdrawals, flexible account types, and strong regulatory coverage across multiple regions.
We break down Exness’s regulatory framework, supported trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Exness Terminal, and the Exness Trade App, as well as available account types such as Standard, Pro, Zero, and Raw Spread.
You’ll also learn about Exness’s leverage options, fees and commissions, swap-free trading, available instruments across forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, and what traders can expect in terms of execution, funding speed, and customer support.
Watch the full review to see whether Exness aligns with your trading goals and strategy.
👉 Explore Exness’s full broker listing on the Finance Magnates Directory:
https://directory.financemagnates.com/multi-asset-brokers/exness/
📣 Stay up to date with the latest in finance and trading. Follow Finance Magnates for industry news, insights, and global event coverage.
Connect with us:
🔗 LinkedIn: /financemagnates
👍 Facebook: /financemagnates
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financemagnates
🐦 X: https://x.com/financemagnates
🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/financemagnates
▶️ YouTube: /@financemagnates_official
#Exness #ExnessReview #Forex #FinanceMagnates #ForexBroker #BrokerReview #CFDTrading #OnlineTrading #MarketInsights
The FMLS:25 highlights video is now live - a look back at the conversations, the energy on the floor, and the moments that shaped this year’s summit.
While that’s still fresh, the next launches across the FM Events portfolio are already taking shape.
FM Singapore takes place on the 12-14 of May, connecting the APAC market with its own distinct audience and priorities. FMAS:26 heads to Cape Town on 26–27 May shortly after, bringing the focus to Africa’s trading and fintech ecosystem.
Different regions. Different audiences. Same commitment to building the right rooms for meaningful conversations.
More details coming very soon. The launches are imminent. - here you go
The FMLS:25 highlights video is now live - a look back at the conversations, the energy on the floor, and the moments that shaped this year’s summit.
While that’s still fresh, the next launches across the FM Events portfolio are already taking shape.
FM Singapore takes place on the 12-14 of May, connecting the APAC market with its own distinct audience and priorities. FMAS:26 heads to Cape Town on 26–27 May shortly after, bringing the focus to Africa’s trading and fintech ecosystem.
Different regions. Different audiences. Same commitment to building the right rooms for meaningful conversations.
More details coming very soon. The launches are imminent. - here you go
What sources does the Finance Magnates newsroom rely on before publishing a story? #FinanceNews
What sources does the Finance Magnates newsroom rely on before publishing a story? #FinanceNews
Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, explains the editorial process: direct industry sources, reports, regulators, social media signals, and thorough cross-checking before anything goes live.
📰 Industry sources
📊 Reports & regulators
🔎 Verification before publication
Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, explains the editorial process: direct industry sources, reports, regulators, social media signals, and thorough cross-checking before anything goes live.
📰 Industry sources
📊 Reports & regulators
🔎 Verification before publication
OnePrime’s Jerry Khargi on Infrastructure, Liquidity & Trust | Executive Interview
OnePrime’s Jerry Khargi on Infrastructure, Liquidity & Trust | Executive Interview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this exclusive executive interview features Jerry Khargi, Executive Director at OnePrime, in conversation with Andrea Badiola Mateos from Finance Magnates.
In this in-depth discussion, Jerry shares:
- OnePrime’s journey from a retail-focused business to a global institutional liquidity provider
- What truly sets award-winning trading infrastructure apart
- Key trends shaping institutional trading, including technology and AI
- The importance of transparency, ethics, and reputation in long-term success
- OnePrime’s vision for growth over the next 12–24 months
Fresh from winning Finance Magnates’ Best Trading Infrastructure Broker, Jerry explains how experience, mentorship, and real-world problem solving form the “special sauce” behind OnePrime’s institutional offering.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Trading Infrastructure Broker
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, market insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #OnePrime #InstitutionalTrading #Liquidity #TradingInfrastructure #ExecutiveInterview
Recorded live at FMLS:25 London, this exclusive executive interview features Jerry Khargi, Executive Director at OnePrime, in conversation with Andrea Badiola Mateos from Finance Magnates.
In this in-depth discussion, Jerry shares:
- OnePrime’s journey from a retail-focused business to a global institutional liquidity provider
- What truly sets award-winning trading infrastructure apart
- Key trends shaping institutional trading, including technology and AI
- The importance of transparency, ethics, and reputation in long-term success
- OnePrime’s vision for growth over the next 12–24 months
Fresh from winning Finance Magnates’ Best Trading Infrastructure Broker, Jerry explains how experience, mentorship, and real-world problem solving form the “special sauce” behind OnePrime’s institutional offering.
🏆 Award Highlight: Best Trading Infrastructure Broker
👉 Subscribe to Finance Magnates for more executive interviews, market insights, and exclusive coverage from the world’s leading financial events.
#FMLS25 #FinanceMagnates #OnePrime #InstitutionalTrading #Liquidity #TradingInfrastructure #ExecutiveInterview
How does the Finance Magnates newsroom decide which updates are worth covering? #financenews
How does the Finance Magnates newsroom decide which updates are worth covering? #financenews
What makes an update worth covering in financial media?
According to Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, editorial focus starts with relevance: stories that serve the industry, support brokers and technology providers, and help decision-makers navigate their businesses.
A reminder that strong financial journalism is built on value, not volume.
What makes an update worth covering in financial media?
According to Yam Yehoshua, Editor-in-Chief at Finance Magnates, editorial focus starts with relevance: stories that serve the industry, support brokers and technology providers, and help decision-makers navigate their businesses.
A reminder that strong financial journalism is built on value, not volume.
