Ross Ulbricht has received a massive gift from the crypto world. He was pardoned earlier this 12 months and, inside hours, 300 Bitcoins—price about $31.4 million—had been despatched to his donation pockets.
He’s already seen help from large gamers like Kraken, which gave $111,111 in Bitcoin, and grassroots efforts that raked in roughly $270,000. Now he has sufficient to start out over, and plenty of within the crypto neighborhood are watching intently.
Neighborhood Help Flows
In line with blockchain evaluation platform Lookonchain, the 300 BTC landed in Ulbricht’s pockets simply hours after it was despatched. This isn’t the primary time beneficiant backers have reached out.
Ross Ulbricht(@RealRossU), the founding father of the #SilkRoad market, obtained 300 $BTC($31.4M) to his donation pockets 8 hours in the past.https://t.co/3DEsM9rpBq pic.twitter.com/JoUMNqM99p
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) June 1, 2025
Earlier in 2025, Kraken quietly wired over $111,111 to assist him modify to life exterior jail. A gaggle known as Free Ross has claimed greater than $270,000 in donations.
One other tackle tied to Ulbricht gathered $4,615 in Ethereum, USDC, Tether (USDT), and Binance Coin (BNB). All of this implies that loads of individuals nonetheless care deeply about his destiny.
Presidential Pardon And Backlash
On January 21, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ulbricht. He’d spent 11 years serving a double life sentence with out parole after being convicted in New York in 2015 of narcotics and money-laundering conspiracy.
Primarily based on studies, Ulbricht may have entry to inactive Bitcoin wallets related to Silk Road, and people wallets might maintain roughly $47 million. That potential stash has solely fueled extra debate: some ask whether or not he actually wants exterior donations if he can faucet into $47 million in dormant cash.
Public sale Of Private Objects
Ulbricht has additionally turned to promoting items of his previous. Primarily based on studies from Scarce Metropolis—the Bitcoin-powered collectibles platform—he’s raised about $1.8 million by auctioning private gadgets and artwork.
His jail ID card drew the best bid: 11 BTC, now price greater than $1.1 million. An oil portray made with assist from fellow inmate “Omega” bought for 1.01 BTC. 13 artifacts in all had been up for grabs, together with jail sneakers, a sweatsuit, a t-shirt, a jail pocket book, and a locker lock.
Earlier than his arrest, he’d owned issues like a djembe drum, a backpack, and Vibram FiveFingers footwear. Bidders should full cost by June 2, and Ulbricht has stated he’s prepared to maneuver on from these bodily reminders.
Featured picture from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
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