Bidding Begins on Ross Ulbricht’s Pre-Arrest and Prison Mementos as He Embarks on New Chapter

On May 13, Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road marketplace, revealed his departure from Arizona, setting off on an undisclosed journey. In a striking move, Ulbricht disclosed plans to auction off select personal belongings—artifacts from his life before incarceration and mementos from his years behind bars.

Turning the Page

Ulbricht, who was fully pardoned this year after U.S. President Donald Trump took office, took to X to declare his exit from Arizona in pursuit of travels unknown. “I’ve left AZ, the state where I was in prison. It’s time to travel,” Ulbricht said on the social media platform. “That means downsizing & turning the page.”

He added:

I’ve decided to auction some personal items from before my arrest & during my time in prison. I don’t need the reminders & I’m sure some of you will love to have them.

The curated collection, showcased on Scarce City, features relics from two distinct eras: a djembe drum from Ulbricht’s pre-incarceration days, his prison artwork, a pre-arrest backpack, a cell lock, three institutional ID cards, and a notebook from behind bars. The auction’s closing date is set for May 29.

Ross Ulbricht’s auction collection via Scarce City.

Prospective bidders must stake a 1% deposit relative to their intended bid—a safeguard against frivolous offers. For those seeking unfettered access, enabling “Satoshi Mode” demands a one-time 0.01 BTC (1 million sats) deposit, granting carte blanche to bid aggressively across all lots. The victor’s deadline to remit payment? Scarce City’s rules say a firm Monday, June 2.

Ulbricht will make a notable appearance at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, marking his first return to the public eye. As for the auction, as his possessions disperse into the hands of supporters, they mark a symbolic clearing of chapters long closed. Thus far, every item listed by Ulbricht has drawn active interest, with bidding underway across the board, according to data from Scarce City.