Ross Ulbricht’s Hidden Fortune: $47M in Bitcoin Still Untouched After 13 Years

Bitcoin wallets linked to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road marketplace, remain untouched and hold approximately 430 BTC, worth around $47 million today, according to Coinbase director Conor Grogan.

Despite the U.S. government seizing a large portion of Bitcoin associated with Silk Road, these wallets were never confiscated and have been dormant for over 13 years.

This revelation comes shortly after President Donald Trump granted Ulbricht a full pardon. Trump criticized the harshness of Ulbricht’s double life sentence, calling it excessive compared to others involved in similar platforms. The pardon has reignited debates about the case and its broader implications for cryptocurrency and justice.

Grogan expressed doubts that Ulbricht still has access to the wallet keys, but noted that the addresses have been tracked publicly through court documents and other sources. While Ulbricht’s release marks a significant shift in the story, the fate of the dormant Bitcoin adds a layer of mystery to an already controversial saga.

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The pardon also highlights the role of Bitcoin in Silk Road’s legacy, a platform that revolutionized anonymous online transactions. It underscores the ethical and legal complexities surrounding cryptocurrency’s use in illicit activities and the long-term consequences for those involved. As debates continue, the dormant BTC wallets stand as a lingering reminder of Bitcoin’s early entanglements in the dark web econom

Alexander Stefanov