Ross Ulbricht’s prison ID card sold for 11 BTC, valued at $1.1M.
Auction of Ulbricht’s items raised $1.8M in Bitcoin on Scarce City.
Collaborative painting "Archway" fetched 1.01 BTC at the auction.
Kraken donated $111,111 in BTC to Ulbricht after his release.
Ulbricht may hold 430 BTC, worth $47M, in untouched wallets.
#RossUlbricht ,#PrisonCardAuction #SilkRoadFounder #BitcoinAuction
A prison ID card belonging to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, sold for 11 BTC, equivalent to $1.1 million, at a recent auction. The sale took place on Scarce City, a Bitcoin-only marketplace, on June 1, 2025. Ulbricht, who was pardoned earlier this year, offered various personal items from his time in prison, drawing significant attention from the crypto community.
The auction featured several of Ulbricht’s belongings, including paintings and pre-arrest items. The prison ID card, marked with "U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons," stood out as the highest-valued item. It displays Ulbricht’s name, inmate number 18870-111, and physical details, such as his height of 6’02” and eye color.
Auction Highlights and Other Items Sold
The auction raised a total of $1.8 million in Bitcoin. A collaborative painting by Ulbricht and a fellow inmate, known as Omega, sold for 1.01 BTC. Titled "Archway," the artwork reflected Ulbricht’s time in prison, where he developed a passion for oil painting. Two other paintings by Ulbricht collectively fetched 1.40 BTC.
Additional items included a sleeping bag, backpack, drum, and prison memorabilia like a notebook and clothing. These pieces, spanning Ulbricht’s life before and during incarceration, were part of a collection that resonated with collectors interested in Silk Road’s history. The auction underscored the enduring fascination with Ulbricht’s legacy in the cryptocurrency world.
Ulbricht’s Release and Financial Support
Ulbricht was released from prison on January 21, 2025, after receiving a pardon from former President Donald Trump. He had served over 11 years of a double life sentence for operating Silk Road, a darknet marketplace that facilitated anonymous transactions using Bitcoin. Following his release, the crypto community showed significant support.
Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange, donated $111,111 in Bitcoin to Ulbricht on January 23, 2025, to help him rebuild his life. The donation was part of broader community efforts to support Ulbricht post-incarceration. Reports also suggest Ulbricht may have access to 430 BTC, worth approximately $47 million, in untouched wallets linked to him, according to Coinbase director Conor Grogan.
