In a moment many thought might never come, Ross Ulbricht stepped onto the stage at Bitcoin 2025 not as a criminal or martyr, but as a free man—his voice unfiltered for the first time in over a decade.
The founder of Silk Road, the now-defunct dark web marketplace that defined a generation of cypherpunks and sparked global controversy, stood before a packed crowd in Nashville on Thursday. After serving 11 years of a double-life sentence for operating what authorities deemed an “online black market,” Ulbricht walked free in January 2025 following a surprise presidential pardon by Donald Trump.
“Just a few months ago, I was trapped behind those prison walls and didn’t know if I would ever get out,” he told the crowd, visibly emotional. “Now I’m free, and it’s because of you”
Ulbricht’s appearance was part gratitude, part warning, and entirely a moment of historic significance for the crypto community. As he recounted his journey—from a federal takedown in 2013 to a global campaign for clemency and ultimately, release—he thanked those who had stood by him. The applause was thunderous.
“You didn’t abandon me. You didn’t forget me,” he said. “When I was silenced, you spoke up”
Comparing his 11-year absence from the world to a Rip Van Winkle-like experience, Ross Ulbricht described the surreal nature of reentering a reality dominated by AI, drones, virtual reality, and Layer-2 crypto solutions.
“I effectively went into a time capsule in 2013,” he shared. “Now it’s all hitting me at once — the freedom, the technology, the fact that I have a future again”
In a speech punctuated by moments of quiet reflection and powerful clarity, Ulbricht said the world had changed—but some things should not.
“With so much speed and chaos, it’s more important than ever to stay true to our principles,” he urged. “Principles should be simple and few. Today, I’ll mention three: freedom, decentralization, and unity. Remember those three”
As crypto navigates global regulation, mass adoption, and evolving use cases, Ulbricht’s words struck a deep chord. To many, he remains a polarizing symbol—either a cyber libertarian or a convicted criminal—but to the crowd at Bitcoin 2025, he was simply Ross: a reminder of crypto’s roots and what’s at stake.
So good to meet @justinsuntron at my welcome back event.
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 31, 2025
What a surprise when he gifted me "Comedian." It is art that gives me superpowers. Now I can can duct tape any banana to any wall and it becomes THE banana. Thank you Justin! https://t.co/tzZ1alIoYP pic.twitter.com/UEcXq5pon2
Ulbricht’s release followed years of grassroots activism, driven in large part by his mother, Lyn Ulbricht, and the #FreeRoss campaign. A Change.org petition advocating for his release garnered over 600,000 signatures. But it was a political gamble by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump that ultimately tipped the scales.
“He’s a man who does what he says,” Ulbricht said of Trump. “He said he’d free me, and he did”
Now out of prison, Ulbricht’s future remains uncertain. Will he write a memoir? Will he reenter the crypto industry? For now, he seems focused on reorienting himself in a world that moved on without him—and trying to ensure the community that didn’t forget him won’t forget what they stand for either.
“I lost years, yes. But I also gained perspective. I saw who people really are when there’s no audience. And now I want to use my voice again—with intention”
Whether seen as a cautionary tale or a redeemed figure, Ross Ulbricht’s re-emergence is a pivotal moment for crypto. In a sea of token pumps and AI integrations, his speech reminded Bitcoin 2025 attendees that this movement—at its heart—was always about somethin
