From December 2 to December 8, the imprisoned creator of the defunct dark web bazaar Silk Road will auction off an NFT collection.
Ulbricht is serving two life sentences after being convicted in 2014 of money laundering, conspiracy to commit computer hacking, and conspiracy to smuggle drugs. Ulbricht launched the Dark Web marketplace Silk Road, which utilized Bitcoin to trade illegal items, under the alias Dread Pirate Roberts.
His NFT collection will be available on SuperRare beginning December 2, following its debut at Art Basel. Eleven artworks from Ulbricht’s life are included in the collection. Supporters minted the artworks into NFTs.
The auction proceeds will primarily benefit Ulbricht’s legal defense fund, with a portion going toward the creation of the Art4Giving fund. Art4Giving is a donor-advised fund dedicated to “reducing the pain of jailed people and their families.”
The announcement that Ulbricht was releasing an NFT collection elicited conflicting reactions from the crypto community. Bullbitcoin.com creator Francis Pouliot was among the skeptics, stating that “the fact that the irrational and unethical NFT Ponzi has now been completely mainstream is profoundly worrying.” Another Twitter user commented:
I can live with the establishment of worldwide drug and weapons markets. However, NFTS is where I draw the line.
CryptoCobain, one of Ethereum’s co-founders, spoke out in favor of Ulbricht:
There are bitcoin maxis trying to cancel @RealRossU for selling NFTs to raise money to charity for people incarcerated.
One tweet say “way to lose your fanbase”.
This man is in jail for life and did more for bitcoin than all of the laser eye cult combined.
Bidding Ross NFTs.
— cobie (@CryptoCobain) November 30, 2021
