- Should he win reelection, Trump promises to shorten Ross Ulbricht’s sentence.
- Trump backs bitcoin and attacks Biden while guaranteeing holders of the currency protection.
Should Donald J. Trump win reelection, he has promised to commute Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht’s life sentence to time served.
Speaking at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., Trump said, “I would commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to a time-served sentence on Day 1 if you vote for me. We’ll bring him home; he’s already served 11 years.
Taking to social media, Trump also praised the bitcoin business. “I am really upbeat and accepting of cryptocurrency businesses and everything associated with this emerging sector. Leading the way in this area has to be our nation.” In his Truth Social post, he said:
“There is no second place. President Joe Biden wants [the cryptocurrency business] to suffer a slow and painful death. With me, it will never happen!”
Passionate Backing of Ulbricht’s Release
The Libertarian National Convention audience erupted in applause when Trump announced that Ulbricht will be freed; many were waving signs that said, “Free Ross.”
In the crypto world and among Libertarians, Ulbricht—who was given two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years in prison in 2015 for founding and running Silk Road—has become a martyr.
They see his severe sentence as a breach of constitutional rights and government overreach. 2018 saw the Libertarian Party demand his pardon.
Trump’s Clemency Record and Cryptostance
Before his term came to a close in January 2021, Trump pardoned 143 people, including Ken Kurson of the Ripple Board; he did not pardon Ulbricht, Julian Assange, or Edward Snowden.
Trump pledged at the conference to “stop Joe Biden’s crusade to crush crypto” and to make sure that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will be developed in the United States rather than sent abroad.
"I will also immediately end the humanitarian crisis on our southern border." – President Donald Trump
Join our LIVE Coverage of President Trump’s Speech: https://t.co/fAKnmQkekf pic.twitter.com/Gs1RdVSMAb
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 26, 2024
Relationship with Cryptocurrency
Trump promised to defend cryptocurrency owners from government meddling and to uphold the right to self-custody of the digital money. To applause from the crowd, he declared:
“I will never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency, and I will keep Elizabeth Warren and her goons away from your bitcoin.”
Meanwhile, ETHNews has previously highlighted Trump’s reputation in the cryptocurrency industry, going back to 2017.