Ross Ulbricht, founding father of the defunct Silk Street darknet market, has raised over $1.3 million price of Bitcoin by the sale of private and prison-related objects.
The public sale, held by way of Scarce Metropolis, coincided together with his look on the Bitcoin 2025 convention—his first public occasion since being launched from jail earlier this 12 months following Donald Trump’s presidential pardon.
Silk Street Founder Makes Public Comeback
The objects up on the market included his prison-issued ID playing cards, clothes, work, and handwritten notes. His 2024–2025 jail ID fetched the best bid at 5.5 BTC, whereas the total set of three IDs offered for a mixed 7.5 BTC, valued at over $780,000 on the time.
Different memorabilia included a pocket book offered for 1.06 BTC, three jail work that introduced in a complete of two.41 BTC, and clothes equivalent to his jail sneakers and sweatsuit, which offered for 0.54 and 0.51 BTC, respectively.
Ulbricht additionally parted with private belongings from earlier than his arrest, together with a djembe drum, a backpack, and a sleeping bag. In an announcement shared on the Scarce Metropolis public sale platform, he defined that these things characterize a chapter he’s now prepared to depart behind.
“I’ve left Arizona, the state the place I used to be in jail. It’s time to journey. Which means downsizing and turning the web page. I’ve determined to public sale some private objects from earlier than my arrest and through my time in jail. I don’t want the reminders and I’m certain a few of you’ll like to have them,” Ulbricht mentioned.
Shortly after the public sale, blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain detected a major donation of 300 BTC, price roughly $31.4 million, despatched to Ulbricht. This transaction is without doubt one of the largest single donations recorded this 12 months.
The donation got here a number of days after Ulbricht’s emotional speech at Bitcoin 2025.
On stage, he expressed gratitude to the Bitcoin group for his or her help throughout his incarceration.
The Silk Street founder additionally highlighted the values he believes ought to form the following section of crypto improvement, together with freedom, decentralization, and unity.
“In the case of freedom, we’re not there but. There’s nonetheless extra freedom to be gained,” Ulbricht said.
Ulbricht’s presence on the occasion indicators a renewed effort to take part within the crypto area, albeit from a unique vantage level.
His previous stays controversial, however his message resonated with many attendees who proceed to see Bitcoin as a software for particular person empowerment.
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