Former President Donald Trump concluded his first day back in the White House without fulfilling a campaign pledge to pardon or commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the now-defunct dark web marketplace Silk Road. Ulbricht is serving a life sentence for his role in facilitating the sale of illegal drugs on the platform, which utilized cryptocurrency for transactions.

Upon his inauguration, Trump enacted several executive orders, addressing issues such as immigration, cartel designations, and federal executions. He also granted pardons and commutations to individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. However, these actions did not extend to Ulbricht, despite Trump's prior commitment.

During the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, Trump addressed a largely disapproving audience, attempting to garner support from Libertarian voters who generally opposed the War on Drugs and believed the case against Silk Road was an example of government overreach. A notable exception to the negative reception was Trump's declaration that he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence, leading to chants of “Free Ross” from attendees, many of whom displayed signs with the same message. Trump reinforced this promise at a bitcoin conference, again receiving enthusiastic applause.

Ulbricht expressed gratitude for Trump's commitment on social media, acknowledging the support he had received and the hope for a second chance after over a decade of incarceration. He had previously shared his anticipation for potential release, stating his intention to dedicate himself to learning and preparing for freedom.

While the initial deadline passed, reports emerged suggesting that Trump's staff confirmed a pardon or commutation might still be forthcoming. Elon Musk, serving in Trump's administration, also indicated Ulbricht's imminent release. Many Libertarians cited Trump's promise as a factor in their voting decision. Despite considering a similar action during his first term, Trump ultimately did not intervene at that time.

Ulbricht, now 40, ran Silk Road from 2011 until his 2013 arrest and subsequent life sentence in 2015. He has expressed remorse for his actions while maintaining his original intent was to promote a more free and equitable world.