#Trump pardons dark web founder#

President Trump has officially pardoned Ross William Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, fulfilling a promise he made during his campaign. The decision has sparked a major discussion about justice, cryptocurrency, and the implications of Ulbricht's legacy. Trump posted a message on Truth Social saying that he personally called Ulbricht's mother to deliver the news and criticized the process that led to Ross's conviction. He called those who tried to convict him "scum" and compared them to those involved in the modern government's weaponization against him. Ulbricht was convicted of continuing criminal activity and distributing drugs, as well as a range of related crimes, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Many believe that Ulbricht himself did not sell drugs or other illegal items, but rather ran a platform that allowed others to do so. Trump's pardon has ignited heated discussion in the cryptocurrency community, with many believing that it indicates a shift in the government's stance towards DeFi. Some believe that the pardon could lead to more cryptocurrency-related ETFs, including those related to staking.