Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is cautiously optimistic about his potential release after a decade-long incarceration.

The notorious darknet marketplace remains famous for facilitating millions in illegal transactions using Bitcoin (BTC).

Ross Ulbricht Awaits Possible Freedom For Bitcoin-Aided Crimes

Ulbricht, who has been serving a double life sentence since 2015 without parole, expressed gratitude to those who supported Donald Trump’s presidential bid. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), he said he hoped that the former President might honor his commitment to commute his sentence after taking the Oval Office.

“Immense gratitude to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust him to honor his pledge and give me a second chance. After 11+ years in darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel,” Ulbricht wrote.

This message from Ulbricht resonated widely, with supporters rallying behind his cause. They urge Trump to fulfill what he promised during campaign speeches this year.

In hindsight, Trump’s remarks regarding Ulbricht’s potential clemency came during the Libertarian National Convention in March. As a presidential aspirant then, Trump pledged that, if re-elected, he would “commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.” The promise came as part of his commitment to criminal justice reform.

His promise was largely viewed as an attempt to appeal to Libertarian voters, a group that has consistently advocated for Ulbricht’s release. Noteworthy, Trump also repeated the commitment during the Bitcoin 2024 Conference in Nashville. Representative Thomas Massie, a staunch advocate of Ulbricht’s case, reinforced this sentiment.

“Hang in there Ross. President Donald Trump himself told me that he would. It’s one of the reasons I endorsed him,” Massie noted.

Ulbricht’s case is controversial because of the illegal activities conducted on the Silk Road. Additionally, the lengthy prison term he received remains a bone of contention for some.

The platform, which Ulbricht launched in 2011, operated as an online black market. Users could buy and sell drugs, fake IDs, and other illicit goods, all primarily paid for with Bitcoin.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) shut down Silk Road in 2013. This set the pace for Ulbricht’s arrest and eventual sentencing. As part of the sentence, the Silk Road founder got two life terms without the possibility of parole.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Ulbricht’s supporters argue that his punishment was excessively severe. This is especially true given the non-violent nature of his crime. They believe Ulbricht has been turned into a scapegoat for cryptocurrency-related offenses.

Many in the crypto community continue to advocate for his clemency. Some even call his case a reflection of harsh judicial measures against pioneers of the digital age.

Polymarket Bettors on Ulbricht’s Possible Clemency

The question of Ulbricht’s release has even found its way onto Polymarket, a prediction platform where users wager on political and societal outcomes. Bettors on Polymarket currently speculate a 77% chance that Trump will pardon Ulbricht, making him one of the top candidates in line for Trump’s potential pardon list. He matches individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol riot, who also boast a 77% chance.

Meanwhile, the US government has been liquidating Bitcoin seized from Silk Road. Following a Supreme Court ruling, authorities were allowed to sell large amounts of Bitcoin tied to the case. The proceeds will go to the government.

Legal experts have commented on this sale, arguing it displays the changing stance of regulatory authorities on Bitcoin, shifting from seizing the digital currency as “criminal assets” to monetizing it to benefit public funds. Some analysts warn, however, that the sale of such vast Bitcoin holdings could potentially impact the market, especially as Bitcoin’s value is highly sensitive to large fluctuations in supply.

The Silk Road case has grown to symbolize more than a criminal enterprise. It has sparked debates over the limits of justice, the right to innovation, and the tension between government and privacy advocates.

As Ulbricht holds out hope for clemency, his case remains at the center of discussions on digital privacy, decentralization, and judicial fairness.  For now, Ulbricht and his supporters await January with guarded optimism, hoping for a reprieve after over a decade in prison.

The cryptocurrency market has witnessed a major evolution in recent years, with centralized exchanges and now recently spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) playing a crucial role in driving adoption.

Among the participants helping to boost crypto adoption, the two key players leading this charge are Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and BlackRock, with its spot Bitcoin ETF known as IBIT, according to the latest insight shared by a CryptoQuant analyst.

The analyst reveals their influence extends across trading volumes and institutional investment, making them central figures in the current Bitcoin market.

Market Share And Institutional Presence

The CryptoQuant analyst Crazzyblockk highlighted Binance and BlackRock’s pivotal roles in a post on the CryptoQuant QuickTake platform.

According to Crazzyblockk, the emergence of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which began operations in January 2024, has further solidified Bitcoin’s role in mainstream finance.

Among these, Binance stands out due to its dominance in spot BTC trading volume and vast BTC reserves, holding 623,000 BTC out of the 3.15 million BTC collectively held across all centralized exchanges.

In comparison, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF has become a leader in the ETF space, holding 434,000 BTC of 1 million BTC across all spot ETFs.

Furthermore, the CryptoQuant analyst noted that in terms of market share, Binance accounts for approximately 19.7% of the BTC reserves held across all exchanges, establishing its stronghold as a central player in global Bitcoin trading.

Meanwhile, BlackRock’s spot BTC ETF, trading under the ticker IBIT, has also emerged as a key institutional player. Holding over 43.4% of the total Bitcoin reserves across all spot ETFs, BlackRock’s presence signifies the growing institutional demand for Bitcoin exposure through regulated financial products.

Bitcoin Market Performance

Along with Binance and BlackRock’s role in the Bitcoin market, the asset has installed hope and confidence back into investors following its recent price performance.

So far, BTC has surged by more than 20% in the past two weeks and over 10% in the past 7 days bringing its price above $75,000. Particularly, the asset trades for $75,700, at the time of writing up by 1.8% in the past day.

This current market price marks a mere 0.7% decrease from its all-time high of $76,243 created yesterday. Interestingly, despite the asset still seeing a continuous uptick in price as of today, BTC’s daily trading volume appears to have cooled off.

Data from CoinGecko shows that this metric of BTC has seen a notable decline from more than $130 billion as of November 6 to a valuation below $70 billion as of today.

Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

US Senator Cynthia Lummis remains optimistic that her national Bitcoin reserve bill proposal could pass within the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term.

On November 11, Lummis posted on X, expressing confidence that bipartisan support could propel the bill forward if public support grows. She argued that this legislation would enhance the US financial system and reinforce the country’s leadership in Bitcoin.

Senator Cynthia Lummis Seeks Support for National Bitcoin Reserve Plan

Lummis introduced the Bitcoin Reserve bill in July, intending to use funds from the Federal Reserve and Treasury to acquire one million bitcoins. This amount would make the United States the largest government Bitcoin holder, representing about 5% of the network’s supply — similar to the US gold reserve stake.

“We can get this done with bipartisan support in the first 100 days IF we have the support of the people. It is a game changer for the solvency of our nation. Let’s put America on sound financial footing and pass the Bitcoin Act,” Lummis said on X.

The legislation also aims to establish a Bitcoin reserve and secure property rights over Bitcoin ownership and custody. It proposes a decentralized network of secure vaults under Treasury Department oversight, ensuring top-tier asset protection.

Although the bill previously stalled in the Senate, advocates believe it has a better chance now, with Trump favorably inclined toward it.

“The Bitcoin and Crypto industry’s policy wishlist is long and pressing… but the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is the #1 most urgent and transformational policy on President Trump’s agenda. The downstream effects change everything. We must get it done in the first 100 days,” David Bailey remarked on X.

Despite this enthusiasm, the bill would still need to go through the full legislative process, including approvals from the Senate and House, before reaching the president for final authorization.

The concept of a national Bitcoin reserve bill has already drawn bipartisan interest. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna recently voiced support on a podcast, highlighting Bitcoin’s growth potential.

“We want to make sure that we have openness to having Bitcoin as part of the Federal Reserve and as a reserve asset because of its potential for appreciation and its potential to allow America to set financial standards,” Khanna said.

Additionally, Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, pointed out that a national Bitcoin reserve could strengthen US influence in areas such as energy production, artificial intelligence, and decentralized finance. He also noted that the US could use over 200,000 BTC while mining more through public-private partnerships in frontier cities, with no capital risk involved.

Lummis and her supporters believe this proposal could strengthen the Bitcoin-backed economy and ensure America’s position at the forefront of financial innovation.