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Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, faces eBay verification delays after his pardon. Will he launch a new marketplace in 2025? Regulatory challenges are expected as firms are likely to steer clear of associating with him after spending over 12 years in jail before Donald Trump’s pardon.
Ross Ulbricht, credited with popularizing Bitcoin and turning it into a medium of exchange when it was barely three years old via the infamous Silk Road Marketplace, is again making headlines.
(BTCUSDT)
After serving 12 years in prison before Donald Trump pardoned him in January 2025, he is trying to rebuild his life. To get him on track, crypto fans launched ROSS, one of the best meme coins to buy.
He recently wanted to auction some of his belongings on eBay, the global marketplace.
Is eBay Knowingly Frustrating Ross Ulbricht?
However, Ulbricht claims eBay has knowingly and frustratingly delayed the verification process.
In a post on X, Ulbricht expressed frustration over eBay’s failure to verify his identity for over a week.
Been trying to auction some personal belongings. @eBay wants to verify my ID. I provided all docs a week ago and still nothing. I’ve talked to several eBay reps & keep being put off.
Today’s the last day to start an auction before I leave town. Do you know someone who can help?
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) March 25, 2025
He had been attempting to auction his belongings but faced prolonged delays in getting approval. Eventually, he suspected that the marketplace intentionally avoided processing his request due to his criminal history, so he felt “discriminated against since going free.”
The situation has fueled speculation that eBay deliberately avoids associating with the former darknet marketplace operator.
Although eBay has not issued an official statement, it is plausible that the company is hesitant to allow the Silk Road founder on its platform, likely due to reputational risks tied to his criminal history.
Before being pardoned, Ulbricht faced a double life sentence plus 40 years for his role in facilitating the sale of narcotics through Silk Road.
Law enforcement claimed that criminals moved over $200 million through the platform.
Ulbricht is not alone.
Many others complain about eBay customer service, inconsistencies in verification policies, and harsh seller policies.
They claim the platform unfairly favors buyers and even sides with scammers.
Will Ulbricht Create His Own Marketplace?
This frustration is why Ulbricht publicly toyed with the idea of launching his marketplace.
I was just told that @eBay is aware of this, but is choosing to not do anything about it. First time I have felt discriminated against since going free.
Gee, maybe I should start my own ecommerce website. What’ll I call it…? https://t.co/xBqvL3dDuQ
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) March 25, 2025
Whether he’s serious or not, the prospect of Ulbricht re-entering the e-commerce industry has gained traction.
Zeus Bitcoin Wallet has offered to create a simple-to-use Lightning Network wallet.
Let us know if you need help getting set up with payments on Lightning.
We’d be happy to help or at least get you up to speed. DMs are open.
— ZEUS (@ZeusLN) March 25, 2025
Another suggestion was that he should “seek or build a decentralized and censorship-resistant solution.”
I believe this is a time for low time preference, not for quick moves. You’re a strong advocate of free markets and a culture of societal resistance. Seek or build a solution that is decentralized and censorship-resistant. eBay may have broad reach, but what’s needed here is a…
— Modeotec (@ModeotecArt) March 26, 2025
Others also advised him to explore alternatives that support untraceable digital cash, like Monero–one of the best cryptos to buy–, while not charging a listing fee.
Hey @RealRossU ! Checkout https://t.co/4qsfRRXio3 . It is gaining traction as the clearnet, untraceable digital cash, peer to peer “eBay”. No fees to list. No fees taken on transactions. Seller keeps it all. Just the fraction of cent Monero transaction fee. Also there is a multi…
— Douglas Tuman (@DouglasTuman) March 25, 2025
His experience with Silk Road might help launch a new marketplace, but there are challenges.
As seen with eBay’s reaction, he will likely face regulatory scrutiny. Accordingly, some mainstream financial institutions and payment processors may hesitate to support a business tied to his name.
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Ross Ulbricht Snubbed by eBay: Will the Silk Road Founder Launch a New Marketplace in 2025?
- eBay delays Ross Ulbricht’s Verification. Is he being discriminated against?
- Silk Road founder hints at launching a new marketplace after eBay frustration
- Ulbricht can build a crypto-powered marketplace, but he might face challenges
The post Will Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht Launch a New Marketplace After eBay Frustrations? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
