Following his release from prison, Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the defunct darknet marketplace Silk Road, publicly thanked former President Donald Trump for granting him a pardon. In a video shared on social media, Ulbricht, once known online as "Dread Pirate Roberts," expressed his gratitude and hinted at his plans for the future.

Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 for creating Silk Road, a platform that facilitated the sale of illegal drugs and other illicit activities like money laundering. This platform is widely considered a precursor to modern darknet marketplaces. Originally sentenced to life in prison without parole, Ulbricht's laptop, a key tool in the site's creation and operation, is now held by the FBI alongside artifacts like Ted Kaczynski's cabin and pieces of the World Trade Center.

In his video message, Ulbricht expressed overwhelming joy at his newfound freedom and his desire to reconnect with his family and heal. He also indicated an eagerness to re-engage with society and promised further communication once he was ready. He praised Trump for keeping his promise to grant the pardon, calling it an "amazing blessing."

Ulbricht's family, who campaigned tirelessly for his release, issued a statement on FreeRoss.org expressing profound thanks to Trump and all those who supported them. Trump himself confirmed the pardon on Truth Social, stating that he had contacted Ulbricht's mother to inform her of his decision. He linked the pardon to the Libertarian movement's support for his campaign and criticized those involved in Ulbricht's conviction, calling them "lunatics" and deeming the original sentence of two life sentences plus 40 years "ridiculous."