RealRossU
Ross Ulbricht

One year ago today, a prison guard banged on my cell door and said: YOU'RE FREE!!
After more than 11 years under a life sentence, I walked out of max security prison with Leaf Erikson, the little plant I was growing in my cell.
Leaf and I are so grateful for our second chance at life.
https://blossom.primal.net/43f9b1ef5b7235ecdba499a1aa066d292534a00406642dabfb2fac7554a71c1c.jpg

2025-10-24 14:04:12 UTC

There are times when I'm in the middle of doing something and I stop because it just hits me all over again:
DEAR GOD, I'M FREE!!!
That wave of disbelief and joy overcomes me, just like it did when I walked free the first time. I wonder if it'll ever go away?

2025-09-26 14:55:15 UTC

Should I sue?
https://x.com/RealRossU/status/1971585799880671695
https://reason.com/2025/09/24/kamala-harris-slams-trump-for-pardoning-the-fentanyl-dealer-ross-ulbricht/

2025-09-11 16:34:18 UTC

Like all of you, I am mourning Charlie Kirk. He stood up for his beliefs and died for them at 31, wearing a T‑shirt that read "Freedom."
At 31, my life was taken from me for standing up for what I believed in. And Charlie helped me get it back. He never took credit for it but he played a BIG role in my freedom in many ways. Last year alone, when President Trump won the election, he asked Charlie what was the #1 thing he could do for him and Charlie replied: "Free Ross." And in the days leading to my release, Charlie advocated for a full pardon. He did this and more without expectations of me.
I wish there was something I could do to help Charlie get his life back. But there isn't, and I'm heartbroken.
Charlie, I will always be grateful to you. Thank you for all you did for me and for our country. I pray for you and your beautiful family. Rest in peace.
https://blossom.primal.net/850faf58db98a68b2f8375e217aa4d294daef800f1fa655004e82e5a72e3be9b.jpg

2025-09-04 19:17:24 UTC

I've done 4 public appearances since May to thank all of you who supported me at my lowest.
For now I'm taking a break from public speeches. I'm soaking in this new life. It still feels surreal to be free.
I'm excited for all the opportunities ahead!

2025-09-01 14:55:16 UTC

Holiday weekends hit different after 11 years in prison. They used to mean an extra visit day.
Now I get to spend Labor Day at home. I'm thinking of my friends and their families who are still in that visitation room. I feel so lucky I made it out.
Happy Labor Day, everyone!

2025-07-25 17:53:08 UTC

I recently discovered @nprofile…6fpr
It reminds me of the kind of decentralization Nostr has but for a private chat client.
What other decentralized apps like these should I be looking at?

2025-07-23 13:47:41 UTC

Six months ago yesterday, President Trump signed my pardon papers. I got to walk free just a few hours later.
Feels like a lifetime of new experiences since then. So much gratitude and joy in my new life!
https://blossom.primal.net/4c624dd6f9f1240e93df7b9d715015887ee6494cdef03a271948ca15429f4679.jpg

2025-06-18 17:26:47 UTC

In a speech I just gave at Freedom Fest, I reveal the conditions I went through in federal prison. You need to know what's being done in your name behind locked doors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVt1_SN-ATk

2025-06-04 16:29:00 UTC

Since my release from prison, I've met many people who've thanked me for the role I played in what Bitcoin has become today.
In return I want to thank the community for having my back, both in prison and now. Thank you SO much for all of the love you are showing me!

2025-05-30 22:27:05 UTC

Ten years ago to the day, I was sentenced to die in prison. Instead I gave my first public speech in freedom.
I wore a red tie as an homage to President Trump, the man who saved my life.
https://blossom.primal.net/8e1a6159b5e385bcb721d11ed6d63a2e6effde0f606d249b8b219eee3a3c1dc1.mp4

2025-05-28 17:25:59 UTC

I love this display the Bitcoin Magazine team set up for my collection @nprofile…7emy in Vegas.
The auctions end tomorrow afternoon, so about 24 hours left. Then I hit the stage!
Auction: https://scarce.city/collections/b25-ross-ulbricht-collection
https://blossom.primal.net/d36cb5ab04d600353397d5ac34711f9f73f601a970e35bf3bbd89d1ee87810eb.jpg

2025-05-21 18:38:45 UTC

My big speech at Bitcoin 2025 is just a week away, but I am feeling suprisingly serene about it.
I'm just looking forward to connecting with so many of you at once. It feels like I am coming home.

2025-05-19 20:10:53 UTC

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image upload didn't work on primal, so just linking to the image on X.

2025-05-19 20:08:46 UTC

Can you believe this is Leaf Erikson? I am so proud of him.
https://x.com/RealRossU/status/1924509338749612357/photo/1

2025-05-15 15:21:24 UTC

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🟡 Auction: https://scarce.city/collections/b25-ross-ulbricht-collection
🟡 Bitcoin 2025 tickets: http://bm.b.tc/ross
🟡 Welcome back event: https://b.tc/conference/2025/ross-ulbricht-welcome-back-celebration

2025-05-15 15:19:51 UTC

I’ve left AZ, the state where I was in prison. It's time to travel. That means downsizing & turning the page.
I've decided to auction some personal items from before my arrest & during my time in prison. I don't need the reminders & I'm sure some of you will love to have them.

2025-05-13 01:01:59 UTC

First Mother's Day in freedom. So good to be with my mom yesterday. She did so much to free me and never gave up on me. I hearby nominate her for mother of the century!
https://blossom.primal.net/9984e813d7c7edad415ec60373b3601c3d965a1c698a958fcc95d07f70953439.jpg

2025-05-07 15:20:09 UTC

Waymos (ghost cars) scare me. That's too much future right there. I better get used to them though. When will there be more driverless cars on the road than ones with a human behind the wheel?

2025-05-01 21:03:48 UTC

Should've known nostr had a decentralized substitute for Substack!
https://yakihonne.com/article/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzqzyyxmxs88lcjp6ydr7nylav7cncfm4nwjgwpggc4w03fjwjv3kvqq2h2umrv4x45ajgdparg43dvaxxusmvtpxxcwuwcth

2025-05-01 17:51:18 UTC

If you can't choose your own price, you are not free.
I wrote this while in prison when price controls were implemented during COVID. Just came across it in the stuff I brought home from my cell and typed it up for you.
https://rossulbricht.substack.com/p/high-prices-in-times-of-crisis

2025-04-30 20:35:29 UTC

I will be attending Freedom Fest and giving a speech there this year. It is June 11 - 14 in Palm Springs, CA.
If you'd like to come see me, they are giving a $150 discount on admissions for my followers with code FREEROSS.
https://t.co/ydo5T2pWRZ

2025-04-27 20:16:55 UTC

Happy Sunday 🌞
Sundays used to mean prison visitation day, a good day. Thinking of my friends still behind bars and their families who made the trip to see them. Stay strong fellas.

2025-04-24 18:45:14 UTC

decentralization -> freedom

2025-04-21 18:40:31 UTC

Is there a way to filter out all of this buzzbot and zap raffle stuff?

2025-04-21 01:40:03 UTC

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Oh yes, I do. That's why I am interested in understanding it and looking for possible weaknesses. I want it to succeed long-term, and the best way to ensure that is to look ahead, iterate and improve.

2025-04-20 02:00:17 UTC

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This is what I wrote about back in 2021 if you want to take a look: https://rossulbricht.medium.com/decentralize-social-media-cc47dcfd4f99
The basic idea is that users would pay for content delivery, but it would happen under the hood at the protocol level and be super cheap and plentiful because of node competition (I called them "content servers" back then). Your average user wouldn't know or care about it, wouldn't have to shop around for private nodes or run their own.

2025-04-20 00:15:45 UTC

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Yeah, I saw that there are paid relays out there. The market will find a way, but the less the users have to deal with the better. Nodes are simple/dumb by design, so designing a business model for them so they are all competing on the same metric (data availability) shouldn't be tough.

2025-04-19 23:55:01 UTC

Been reading up on the nostr protocol and comparing it to the DSP I wrote about in 2021. Many of the details seem to have been worked out brilliantly, but one thing that worries me is the reliance on volunteer nodes.
It would be nice if there was a business model for nodes and node competition at the protocol level.
As it is, I wonder if nostr can scale.

2025-04-17 17:57:52 UTC

Just before I take the stage, I'll be hosting a welcome back celebration at @nprofile…7emy. Should be great food and a great time. I would love for you to join me.
Conference tickets: https://bm.b.tc/ross
Welcome home event: https://b.tc/conference/2025/ross-ulbricht-welcome-back-celebration
https://m.primal.net/QTxQ.png

2025-04-17 01:38:30 UTC

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You are too kind

2025-04-17 01:36:22 UTC

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Nice! What did you think of it?

2025-04-16 23:57:50 UTC

@nprofile…zj6n showed me nostr recently. Reminds me of a writeup I did back in 2021 on decentralized social media:
https://rossulbricht.medium.com/decentralize-social-media-cc47dcfd4f99
I'll be mirroring my X account here and hopefully finding some good conversations.