Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, addressed attendees at the Republican National Committee's 2026 midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday.

Ulbricht, who received a full pardon from President Donald Trump in January 2025 after serving more than a decade in prison, described the value of freedom in personal terms.

"Freedom is like air. You don’t think about it," Ulbricht said. "I lost my freedom to a corrupt federal investigation for crimes that I didn’t commit. I was sentenced to die in prison. President Trump heard about my case and had compassion."

The appearance comes as Republicans gather for the two-day midterm convention aimed at energizing the party ahead of November elections. Ulbricht's remarks highlighted his gratitude toward Trump, who fulfilled a 2024 campaign pledge made to libertarian supporters by granting the pardon shortly after taking office.

Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 on charges related to operating Silk Road, which facilitated illegal drug sales and other transactions using Bitcoin. Supporters have long argued his sentence was disproportionate.

Trump's decision to pardon Ulbricht drew both praise from libertarian and cryptocurrency communities and criticism from those who viewed the site as contributing to drug-related harms. Ulbricht has since spoken publicly about his experiences and expressed appreciation for his release.