Ross Ulbricht, the man behind the Silk Road marketplace, has been in prison for 12 years, but his case is still making headlines.
Former President Donald Trump has once again promised to intervene, recently posting on Truth Social: "I WILL SAVE ROSS ULBRICHT!"
This statement brought renewed attention to Ulbricht, who is currently serving two life sentences for creating Silk Road. Launched in 2011, the platform was an online black market that facilitated Bitcoin (BTC) transactions.
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Trump's pledge revived discussions about state control versus the decentralization Silk Road represented. Public opinion remains divided on Ulbricht's sentence: some believe it was justified, while others argue it is too harsh and reflects the government's fear of decentralized financial systems.
This isn't the first time Trump has publicly supported Ulbricht. Back in May, Trump vowed to free Ulbricht if he wins the presidency again. In response, Ulbricht expressed gratitude on social media, stating how much this support means to him after over a decade in prison.
However, the crypto community is split on Trump's stance. Some see Trump's support as a genuine stand for individual freedom, while others believe it's a calculated move to win over crypto supporters ahead of the 2024 election.
Either way, his statement marks a major shift from his earlier criticism of the crypto industry. Now positioning himself as the "Crypto President," Trump has embraced decentralized finance, launching a DeFi platform aimed at challenging traditional banks and publicly opposing SEC Chair Gary Gensler's strict crypto policies.
As the November election approaches, statements about Ulbricht and crypto in general could be a deciding factor in winning voters.
