In a robust assertion towards unjust sentencing, Moms Towards Merciless Sentencing (MACS), a nonprofit based by Lyn Ulbricht, formally launched at present on the 2025 Bitcoin convention. The group is devoted to advocating for prisoners serving extreme and inhumane sentences and supporting the households affected by such punishments.
MACS seeks to unite voices from throughout the political divide and tech neighborhood to drive significant reform in sentencing legal guidelines.
“A number of 1000’s of individuals, lots of them nonviolent like Ross, are serving excessive sentences—locked away for years, a long time, even lifetimes,” stated Ulbricht. “MACS goals to present households a voice to push for truthful and cheap sentencing, the place the punishment suits the crime.”
Ulbricht will formally introduce the group throughout the Ladies of Bitcoin Brunch, a significant occasion on the convention that gathers influential ladies from the Bitcoin world to debate advocacy, innovation, and influence.
Ross Ulbricht’s Journey: From Life Sentence to Presidential Pardon
Ross Ulbricht turned a controversial determine after launching Silk Street in 2011, an internet market that used Bitcoin for nameless transactions. Whereas the location was sadly used for promoting unlawful medicine, it additionally served as Bitcoin’s first real-world use case, showcasing the facility of decentralized, censorship-resistant cash.
In 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to double life imprisonment with out the opportunity of parole. His punishment rapidly turned a logo of presidency overreach for a lot of within the tech and the Bitcoin world. Critics argued that his sentence far exceeded the bounds of justice, particularly contemplating the nonviolent nature of his crimes.
His pardon, introduced shortly after Trump returned to workplace, is seen as a powerful transfer to honor marketing campaign guarantees and assist Bitcoin’s values of non-public freedom and resistance to authorities overreach. It sparked celebration all through the Bitcoin neighborhood but in addition reminded advocates that the combat for justice is way from over.
The Bitcoin neighborhood continues to name for clemency and assist for others, together with the builders of Samourai Pockets who’re dealing with prosecution for creating privateness instruments, and Edward Snowden, who stays in exile for revealing authorities surveillance applications.
Ross will probably be giving the keynotes speech on the 2025 Bitcoin Convention on Could twenty ninth at 8pm EST. You possibly can watch his speech stay right here.