Ross Ulbricht, founder of the defunct Silk Road darknet marketplace, has raised over $1.3 million worth of Bitcoin through the sale of personal and prison-related items.
The auction, held via Scarce City, coincided with his appearance at the Bitcoin 2025 conference—his first public event since being released from prison earlier this year following Donald Trump’s presidential pardon.
Silk Road Founder Makes Public Comeback
The items up for sale included his prison-issued ID cards, clothing, paintings, and handwritten notes. His 2024–2025 prison ID fetched the highest bid at 5.5 BTC, while the full set of three IDs sold for a combined 7.5 BTC, valued at over $780,000 at the time.
Other memorabilia included a notebook sold for 1.06 BTC, three prison paintings that brought in a total of 2.41 BTC, and clothing such as his prison sneakers and sweatsuit, which sold for 0.54 and 0.51 BTC, respectively.
Ulbricht also parted with personal belongings from before his arrest, including a djembe drum, a backpack, and a sleeping bag. In a statement shared on the Scarce City auction platform, he explained that these items represent a chapter he is now ready to leave behind.
“I’ve left Arizona, the state where I was in prison. It’s time to travel. That means downsizing and turning the page. I’ve decided to auction some personal items from before my arrest and during my time in prison. I don’t need the reminders and I’m sure some of you will love to have them,” Ulbricht said.
Shortly after the auction, blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain detected a significant donation of 300 BTC, worth approximately $31.4 million, sent to Ulbricht. This transaction is one of the largest single donations recorded this year.
The donation came a few days after Ulbricht’s emotional speech at Bitcoin 2025.
On stage, he expressed gratitude to the Bitcoin community for their support during his incarceration.
The Silk Road founder also highlighted the values he believes should shape the next phase of crypto development, including freedom, decentralization, and unity.
“When it comes to freedom, we’re not there yet. There’s still more freedom to be won,” Ulbricht stated.
Ulbricht’s presence at the event signals a renewed effort to participate in the crypto space, albeit from a different vantage point.
His past remains controversial, but his message resonated with many attendees who continue to see Bitcoin as a tool for individual empowerment.
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