The Victory That Inspired a Movement

Ross Ulbricht created Silk Road, an online marketplace built on Bitcoin that enabled voluntary trade between consenting adults. Federal authorities arrested him in 2013; he was sentenced to double life plus forty years without parole.

Lyn Ulbricht became one of the most visible advocates for her son, spending more than a decade speaking, organizing, and building support across the country. In January 2025, President Trump granted Ross a full and unconditional pardon — eleven years into his sentence.

His release stands as a major victory for sustained advocacy by libertarians, crypto users, and justice-reform supporters. Lyn's work continues through Mothers Against Cruel Sentencing.