Former Bitcoin proponent Roger Ver has urged the cryptocurrency community to remember Ross Ulbricht, founder of the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace, who has served 11 years of a double life sentence for facilitating Bitcoin trading on the platform. Ver emphasized the significance of Ulbricht's role in introducing Bitcoin to the world and directed followers to a petition seeking his release, which has garnered nearly 600,000 signatures.
Roger Ver Urges Support for Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht, Imprisoned for Crypto-Enabled Marketplace
Renowned Bitcoin advocate Roger Ver has reignited the call for the release of Ross Ulbricht, the imprisoned founder of the controversial darknet marketplace Silk Road. In a poignant tweet, Ver reminded the cryptocurrency community of Ulbricht's plight, highlighting the transformative role his platform played in introducing Bitcoin to a global audience.
Ulbricht's arrest in 2013 and subsequent conviction to two life sentences without parole marked a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency landscape. The Silk Road, a hub for illicit drug trading primarily facilitated through Bitcoin transactions, became the catalyst for Bitcoin's emergence as a force to be reckoned with.
In the years since his incarceration, Ulbricht has spent over a decade behind bars, with his 40th birthday passing within the confines of his prison cell. Roger Ver emphasized the significance of Ulbricht's creation and the illicit commerce that took place on Silk Road, underscoring its pivotal role in driving Bitcoin's adoption and mainstream recognition.
Ver's appeal for support extends beyond a mere tweet. The Bitcoin Cash advocate has directed attention to a petition urging U.S. authorities to release Ulbricht, attracting nearly 600,000 signatures to date. Ver eloquently captured the sentiment behind the petition: "His 'crime' was building a website where people could trade freely without government permission."
Ver's plea coincides with the recent publication of his book, "Hijacking Bitcoin," co-authored with Steve Patterson. In this work, Ver delves into his perspective on the post-Satoshi era, arguing that Bitcoin's trajectory was altered by a select group of developers who steered the cryptocurrency away from its original vision as an alternative to centralized financial systems.
Notably, Adam Back, a pioneer in the Bitcoin space who interacted with Satoshi Nakamoto and later developed the Bitcoin Lightning Network, responded to Ver's tweet, extending an invitation to return to the Bitcoin fold. However, Samson Mow, the chief strategy officer of Adam Back's Blockstream, interjected with a firm stance: Ver should remain with Bitcoin Cash.
The ongoing debate surrounding Ross Ulbricht's imprisonment serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay between cryptocurrency, innovation, and the law. Roger Ver's passionate call for Ulbricht's release underscores the belief that even those convicted of illicit activities deserve a second chance, especially when their actions have had profound implications for the advancement of a groundbreaking technology like Bitcoin.
