Amir Taaki, a prominent figure in the early days of cryptocurrency, published a heartfelt opinion piece on Nov. 5 on X, asserting that Ross Ulbricht, the man behind Silk Road, fundamentally shaped the trajectory of digital currency. Taaki credits Ulbricht with fostering widespread bitcoin adoption by creating a “market for voluntary goods,” which thrust the currency into the public spotlight.
Taaki further describes Ulbricht as a “sacred hero” and emphasizes the sacrifices Ulbricht made, expressing a belief that the crypto community owes Ulbricht a debt for advancing the movement. This sentiment reflects Taaki’s conviction that Ulbricht should be viewed not as a criminal, but as a pioneering force in the cryptocurrency realm.
Taaki stated:
Ross is a sacred hero or martyr of the cause. It is all for one, and one for all. We are obligated by our revolutionary duty to secure his freedom.
Taaki condemns what he characterizes as the U.S. government’s exaggerated portrayal of Ulbricht. Taaki argues that these claims served as “propaganda” meant to turn public opinion against Ulbricht. He describes the Silk Road as more than a marketplace, calling it an “agorist community” where libertarian ideals flourished. According to Taaki, Ulbricht, known by the alias Dread Pirate Roberts, advanced a mission to create a free, decentralized marketplace, seeking to challenge the state’s control.
The former Bitcoin developer adds:
He sits in prison for life. Are you honestly going to condemn him? Absolutely heartless—Meanwhile rich crypto liberals enjoy rave parties in Thailand, and weigh the life of Ross over other issues important to them over a cocktail. Can you imagine? They aren’t in jail for life, so they can judge whether he’s worth it or not.
Taaki sees Ulbricht’s life sentence without the possibility of early release as a severe injustice. As Taaki recounts his personal interactions with Ulbricht, he suggests that Ulbricht’s management of Silk Road aligned with the principles of voluntary exchange. He recalls Ulbricht’s initial optimism about the movement’s goals, followed by a later communication Taaki describes as having a “terse” tone, which Taaki believes corroborates Ulbricht’s defense that he relinquished control of the Silk Road over time.
To Taaki, this shift reflects Ulbricht’s growth and evolving views, and he finds the criminalization of these ideals to be unjust. The former Bitcoin developer’s comments come on the heels of repeated assurances from former President Donald Trump, who has pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on his first day in office. In a photograph, Taaki is wearing a t-shirt that says “Free Ross Day One.” Concluding his statement, Taaki criticizes the broader cryptocurrency community, which he claims has abandoned Ulbricht in pursuit of profit. “You’re meant to be building to make politics irrelevant. Focus on that,” Taaki insisted.
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