npub148…w3rnw on Nostr: Yesterday, Ross Ulbricht began his 11th year in prison. For running a website. His ...
Yesterday, Ross Ulbricht began his 11th year in prison.
For running a website.
His story remains largely unknown among normies. But his story holds important lessons.
Ulbricht was not your typical criminal.
He held a master's degree in materials science and engineering and had a deep interest in libertarian economic theory, particularly the Austrian economic school.
He used to participate in college debates to discuss his economic views.
In 2011, he embarked on a journey to create Silk Road, an anonymous online marketplace where people could buy anything without leaving a trace.
On his LinkedIn page, he mentioned creating an "economic simulation" to offer people a taste of a world without systemic force.
To maintain anonymity, Silk Road operated on the Tor network, masking its server's location. Transactions occurred in Bitcoin, providing an additional layer of privacy.
This allowed people to buy and sell various items, from drugs to fake IDs, without fear of exposure.
Law enforcement infiltrated Silk Road, and in 2013, Ross was arrested at a San Francisco library.
He faced a laundry list of charges, including running a criminal enterprise, narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and computer hacking conspiracy.
In the end, Ross received not one but two life sentences, plus 40 years, and had to pay $183 million in restitution.
Prosecutors alleged he ordered murders, although no murders were commissioned.
Ulbricht's operational security (OPSEC) mistakes played a pivotal role in his downfall. He used his real email address, posted personal information online, and failed to conceal his location adequately.
I believe the Silk Road will be remembered as a history of free trade, the case of Ross Ulbrich as a history of Justice failures, suppressing human rights and tyranny.
What will you remember?
For running a website.
His story remains largely unknown among normies. But his story holds important lessons.
Ulbricht was not your typical criminal.
He held a master's degree in materials science and engineering and had a deep interest in libertarian economic theory, particularly the Austrian economic school.
He used to participate in college debates to discuss his economic views.
In 2011, he embarked on a journey to create Silk Road, an anonymous online marketplace where people could buy anything without leaving a trace.
On his LinkedIn page, he mentioned creating an "economic simulation" to offer people a taste of a world without systemic force.
To maintain anonymity, Silk Road operated on the Tor network, masking its server's location. Transactions occurred in Bitcoin, providing an additional layer of privacy.
This allowed people to buy and sell various items, from drugs to fake IDs, without fear of exposure.
Law enforcement infiltrated Silk Road, and in 2013, Ross was arrested at a San Francisco library.
He faced a laundry list of charges, including running a criminal enterprise, narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and computer hacking conspiracy.
In the end, Ross received not one but two life sentences, plus 40 years, and had to pay $183 million in restitution.
Prosecutors alleged he ordered murders, although no murders were commissioned.
Ulbricht's operational security (OPSEC) mistakes played a pivotal role in his downfall. He used his real email address, posted personal information online, and failed to conceal his location adequately.
I believe the Silk Road will be remembered as a history of free trade, the case of Ross Ulbrich as a history of Justice failures, suppressing human rights and tyranny.
What will you remember?