Ross is now liberated. I foresee this to be the only positive outcome from this administration in the larger context. The motives for this pardon were entirely political, but nevertheless, I am extremely pleased to witness Ross being reunited with his family and dear ones. Even when considering all the allegations against him at face value, both those actually charged and those not, Ross has undoubtedly completed his time.
Actual murderers and rapists serve a mere fraction of the sentence imposed on Ross, even after multiple violations in some instances. His sentencing was wholly political, and in no manner proportional to the charges laid against him. The intensity was so excessive for one reason: to create a precedent.
He is not the sole instance governments have attempted to make since 2013. The Samourai Wallet team is currently under home confinement awaiting trial for facilitating the backend of a fully self-custodial service. Roman Sterlingov is in custody for operating a centralized mixer, with no proof other than flawed blockchain analytics. The Tornado Cash situation has developers facing cases and prison time across various jurisdictions.
All of these cases extend far beyond the extremes of what occurred with Ross, in terms of legal legitimacy. Ross’s punishment was ridiculously disproportionate, but the legal foundation for these other cases is non-existent. They charged them regardless. In some scenarios, they convicted them nonetheless. These individuals are incarcerated, just like Ross, regardless.
The government will persist in making examples. It doesn’t matter that Trump benefits from the unregulated financial extraction available in this sphere, it doesn’t matter that Wall Street and D.C. recognize value they can exploit, none of that is relevant.
These power players and leaders acknowledging they can establish a scheme, or extract funds from the economy emerging here, doesn’t alter anything. It doesn’t turn them into advocates for privacy. It doesn’t transform them into supporters of actual sovereignty for the individual. It doesn’t convert them into proponents of truly free markets that don’t favor corporate interests preferentially.
We require instruments to genuinely enable all of these aspects, but developing them indicates you are a probable target.
If you truly care about these matters, you are aware this isn’t concluded. One individual who was wrongfully incarcerated is free, and that is a remarkable development. He can reconnect with his parents, his spouse, his friends, and that is genuinely an invaluable achievement.
However, this is not the end. Not by any means. The music started, individuals changed seats, and it stopped again. But it’s still the same game being played, and we cannot lose sight of that.