What was Silk Road dark web? History explored as Creator Ross Ulbricht serving two life sentences pardoned by Trump

United States President Donald Trump has decided to pardon Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the dark-web black market Silk Road, who was convicted in 2015.

Before his pardon, he was serving a life sentence in prison for creating and operating the Silk Road. Trump bestowed upon him a full and unconditional pardon on January 21, 2025, fulfilling one of the promises he made during his campaign.

As for what the Silk Road was, Investopedia defines it as "a digital black market platform that was popular for hosting money laundering activities and illegal drug transactions using Bitcoin." It was first launched in 2011, though the FBI interjected and shut it down in 2013.

---

Here's everything we know about Ross Ulbricht and the black market he founded, Silk Road

Ross Ulbricht, born in March 1984, earned his degree in physics from the University of Dallas, Texas, where he went on a full ride. He eventually pursued a master's degree in materials science and engineering at Pennsylvania State University.

By 2011, he launched Silk Road, having been described as a "freewheeling, free market site" at the time. The site allowed users to deal with cryptocurrency anonymously. Bitcoin was the primary method of transaction, and during the two years that the site was operational, well over $200 million in illegal sales were made.

The site, which operated on Tor to conceal personal information, was only uncovered by the FBI in 2011. Investopedia reported that the agency conceded to finding it difficult to surpass the use of Tor as an obstacle, though they eventually managed to uncover the underground drug market.

The site was eventually shut down, with the raid seizing over 144,000 bitcoins (then valued at $34 million). Several users of the site were also cuffed in addition to its founder. At the time, Ross Ulbricht reportedly made well over $80 million in commissions from all transactions across the site.

Ross Ulbricht was eventually arrested in October 2013, when he was at a library in San Fransisco. He was found guilty in Manhattan in February 2015 for charges relating to the distribution of illicit substances, conspiring to commit computer hacking, as well as money laundering.

He was consequently sentenced to life in prison and was convicted of seven counts. In the wake of Trump pardoning Ulbricht, the president took to his own platform, Truth Social, to pen the following:

"The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponisation of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”

Back in May, President Trump swore to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on “day one” of his administration if he were to be sworn into office. Following November's election, Ulbricht took to X to thank Trump, noting that he voted for him.

“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,” he said in a post on X.