A senior adviser to the operator of the Silk Road dark web marketplace has pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics in a Manhattan federal court. According to a United States Department of Justice press release dated Jan. 30, Roger Thomas Clark was a key figure in the development of Silk Road, advising on all aspects of the enterprise, and even attempting to arrange a murder-for-hire to protect its interests. Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht described Clark, who used a number of online aliases such as “Variety Jones,” and “Plural of Mongoose,” as a “real mentor,” who …

Two well-known Bitcoin (BTC) figures have resorted to a painfully public Twitter exchange to settle an argument over a $20,000 unpaid bet. The heated debate, which is ongoing, revolves around a pledge which investor Ronnie Moas made in 2018. Moas redistributes Ross Ulbricht BTC If Bitcoin was not worth $28,000 by the end of last year, Moas said he would donate the lump sum to FreeRoss.org, the charity working to free jailed former Silk Road owner, Ross Ulbricht. The bet was made with Vinny Lingham, CEO of blockchain identity startup Civic. With BTC/USD trailing at $7,200 on Jan. 1, 2020, …

One of the most successful investors in the world is calling for the release of convicted criminal Ross Ulbricht. Following up on a September 21 tweet by Tim Draper that was completely sympathetic to the imprisoned Silk Road creator, Fred Schebesta of the Crypto Finder video podcast took a moment to ask the billionaire his latest feelings on the matter. Draper gave an effusive response: Free Ross, baby! Get him out. We need entrepreneurs like that guy! Get him out of jail! Why do we put these really extraordinary people in jail? We need their minds, their energy, their life …

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the review of the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, also known as the “Dread Pirate Roberts” of the Silk Road darknet marketplace, according to a court order released today, June 28. Twitter account @free_ross tweeted the news today, calling the court’s decision “devastating:” “SCOTUS denied #RossUlbricht cert petition this morning after holding it pending Carpenter. This is a NO on internet privacy and Ross's case. Devastating. #freeross” Ulbricht had been arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 2015 for his involvement in the Silk Road marketplace, convicted of helping the distribution of drugs, …

Some are labeling it the trial for Internet freedom, others - freedom to retain some privacy - but it will center around one man. The alleged operator of Silk Road known by his pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR) was identified by Law Enforcement to be Ross Ulbricht and tomorrow, he will stand trial on charges ranging from drug trafficking to money laundering to running a criminal enterprise. The trial will begin at 9am ET January 13, 2015 and is expected to last about a month. It will take place Downtown Manhattan at 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007. Volunteers …