US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a bold campaign move, he promised to pardon Ross Ulbricht, founder of controversial e-commerce platform Silk Road, if elected to office.
Bitcoin was traded on Silk Road, and with the collapse of the platform, a large number of BTC fell into the hands of the US government.
Kennedy made this statement on the social media platform X and argued that the two life sentences Ulbricht received were “extremely harsh.”
Kennedy said, “Ross Ulbricht has been in prison for too long. If I am elected, I will pardon him.” said. The presidential candidate also encouraged his followers to sign a petition demanding Ulbricht's release.
Kennedy's stance also coincides with that of former President Donald Trump, who is running for the 2024 presidency. At the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C. in May, Trump promised to commute Ulbricht's sentence on his first day in office if re-elected.
Both Kennedy and Trump have positioned themselves as pro-cryptocurrency candidates, promising to protect Bitcoin from what they describe as President Joe Biden's anti-crypto policies. In particular, Kennedy sees Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and a crucial tool for ensuring transaction freedom.
The support for Ulbricht's release and the pro-crypto stance of these candidates stands in stark contrast to the current administration's approach. Both Kennedy and Trump have voiced opposition to the creation of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Ulbricht, who spent 11 years in prison, responded with gratitude to Trump's earlier promise and expressed hope for a “second chance” thanks to the efforts of his supporters.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the fate of Ross Ulbricht and the future of cryptocurrency policy in the United States remain hot topics that could significantly impact voter decisions.
*This is not investment advice.