Many Bitcoiners had hoped on January 20th because of Trump’s promise during his campaign for president in 2024: “On Day One, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.” But Inauguration Day came and went without the long-awaited action, which disappointed both Ulbricht’s followers and the cryptocurrency community. Despite earlier promises, the “Free Ross” movement did not get the victory it had hoped for. Bitcoiners are now wondering what plans the new government has for crypto-friendly policies.
A Bitcoin Community-wide Promise
During an elevated speech at the Libertarian National Convention in May 2024, Trump promised to commute Ulbricht’s term on his first day in office. This made people in the crypto space very excited. People who support Bitcoin and see Ulbricht as an example of government overreach already liked the “Free Ross” movement. They saw Trump’s promise as a significant victory for their cause. For months, activists and well-known people, like Bitcoin supporter Jack Mallers, kept repeating “Day One.”
Promised yet Uncertain Family Timeline
In addition to Trump’s Day One promise, Ross Ulbricht’s family sparked further anticipation on social media by sharing posts about a potential release date for Ulbricht in January. But there was no exact date given. When Inauguration Day came around, there was no official action, which made people angry and made many wonders if the big claims had been false.
Crushing Crypto Community Hopes
In addition to Ulbricht’s case, Bitcoiners also wanted the government to move immediately on Bitcoin policy. Because of Trump’s speech, more people thought that he would sign an executive order about the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve in his first hours as president.
Next for Ulbricht and Crypto
Even though nothing happened on January 20, there is still a chance that Ulbricht will be freed by the end of the month since that is when his family thinks it will happen. However, the delay makes people wonder if Trump is going to keep his promises, especially when it comes to cryptocurrency policy. This could be a turning point for Bitcoiners in their relationship with the new government.
Conclusion
Unfulfilled “Day One” promises have disappointed Bitcoin enthusiasts, but with January still ongoing, Ross Ulbricht’s release remains a possibility. People in the crypto world don’t know if Trump will keep his promises or if the time isn’t right.
