News Summary

Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the dark web marketplace Silk Road. Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for his role in operating the site, which facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other contraband using Bitcoin. Trump’s decision to pardon Ulbricht comes after years of advocacy by supporters who argued that his punishment was excessively harsh, considering he did not personally sell drugs or engage in violent acts. They contend the Silk Road was a libertarian experiment in free trade. However, allegations of Ulbricht’s involvement in attempted murders-for-hire, though never resulting in violence, complicated his case. The Silk Road was shut down by the FBI in 2013, and Ulbricht’s arrest and conviction highlighted the growing intersection of the internet and illegal marketplaces.