Elon Musk Confirms Trump Will Pardon Ross Ulbricht

Elon Musk has confirmed that Ross Ulbricht, the Silk Road founder, will receive a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Musk responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Ross will be freed too,” reinforcing widespread speculation about Ulbricht’s release. According to Angela McArdle, chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), Ulbricht’s pardon could be announced within the next 24 hours.

Ulbricht’s Legal Battle and Support for His Release

[embed]https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1881524296386031892[/embed] Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for running the Silk Road marketplace, which facilitated illicit transactions. While he was not convicted of direct harm, he was found guilty of enabling illegal activities. Since his imprisonment, Ulbricht has expressed remorse, pursued education, and advocated for criminal justice reform. Trump previously promised to commute his sentence, a pledge he reiterated at the Libertarian National Convention in 2024. On Polymarket, traders currently estimate a 94% chance that Trump will pardon Ulbricht within his first 100 days in office.

Trump’s Crypto Stance: Signs of Regulatory Change

Despite expectations, Trump’s inauguration speech did not mention crypto. However, his administration’s actions suggest a pro-crypto shift. Key pro-crypto figures have been appointed, including: Paul Atkins – SEC Chair, Caroline Pham – CFTC Head, David Sacks – AI & Crypto Czar Industry leaders anticipate crypto-friendly executive orders, including easing banking restrictions on digital assets.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or other advice. Investing in or trading crypto assets comes with a risk of financial loss.