The Ulbricht Countdown

Life in prison — two life sentences! Plus 40 years. That’s a long time incarcerated … for anyone. Especially for one so young as Ross Ulbricht, who, after all, did not kill anybody, or defraud anybody, or steal from anybody.

The operatives of the federal government, on the other hand, wanted to send a message.

Last year, Donald Trump sent a message to members of the Libertarian Party: support me and I’ll free Ross Ulbricht.

Paul Jacob, in these pages, has written about both Mr. Ulbricht and Mr. Trump. Now Mr. Trump is hours away from returning to office, the only public office he’s ever had. Will he exercise his pardon power in favor of Ulbricht?

A week ago, Bitcoin Magazine wondered about the possibility of a pardon. “Although most Bitcoiners admit that Ulbricht was probably aware of his legal violations while profiting from Silk Road transactions, many believe that his asset forfeiture and 11-​year-​and-​counting prison stay have become a sufficient penalty.”

The next day, Nick Gillespie of Reason brought up the possibility: “Reminder: Donald Trump Promised To Free Ross Ulbricht on ‘Day One.’”

Protos figures the odds: “Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market, hosts bets on a list of people Trump could pardon in his first 100 days in office. Unfortunately, no major prediction market lists binary options odds on a ‘day one’ pardon or commutation.”

An article today, in the Prescott eNews, quotes actor Keanu Reaves in Ulbricht’s favor: “The Silk Road and trial of Ross Ulbricht involve many important and complex issues that impact the life of Mr. Ulbricht and us all.” It may be a politically vague statement, but it is nevertheless true.

For his part, Ross Ulbricht insists upon his good intentions, not ill or evil ones: “I was trying to help us move forward.” 

Donald Trump is scheduled to be sworn into office as the 47th President of the United States on Monday the 20th of January. We will see what Mr. Trump truly seeks to move forward, soon after.