President Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the dark web marketplace Silk Road, calling his prosecution unfair and overly harsh. Silk Road facilitated illegal activities like drug trafficking using Bitcoin, which led to Ulbricht’s arrest in 2013 and a conviction resulting in two life sentences plus 40 years without parole. Critics have long debated the severity of his punishment, arguing it was meant to deter others in the digital underground rather than serve justice. Trump’s decision has sparked discussions about cybercrime justice, presidential pardon powers, and balancing innovation with accountability. The pardon underscores ongoing tensions over personal freedom, government overreach, and the ethics of digital platforms. Continue here.
