Ross Ulbricht is releasing an NFT collection for a charity

[mk4]

Quick note: while this may be fitting on Altcoin sections, I'm placing this on the Bitcoin Discussion section because I'm mainly interested in the opinions of Bitcoin-only people.


Various Bitcoiners on Twitter have shown mixed reactions — some showing obvious disappointment, while some showed support. Curious on what Bitcointalk thinks.

“Decades of incarceration stretch out in front of me. As I face that future—my eventual old age and death in this cage—I find myself looking for meaning and purpose. Why am I here? What good can I do with the time I have left and from where I am? I hope that helping my fellow prisoners through my art is one way.”

“With proceeds from this NFT, we are starting a donor-advised fund called Art4Giving, dedicated to relieving the suffering of the incarcerated and their families. There is a lot we can do, but one idea I am committed to is to help kids travel to visit their moms and dads in prison.”

– Ross Ulbricht




The art: https://freeross.org/nft
My NFT by Ross Ulbricht: https://rossulbricht.medium.com/my-nft-f2b4a9f1955c
Tweets: https://twitter.com/RealRossU/status/1465390447958839302 | https://twitter.com/RealRossU/status/1465788108461514756

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[Darker45]

I have nothing against this initiative by Ross. As a matter of fact, this initiative is admirable. I'd rather not look at this as about Ross Ulbricht but as an initiative to help prisoners and their families, especially for kids to be able to travel to visit their moms and dads in prison.

Anybody could start such an initiative and could receive support for what it is and what it tries to achieve and not because of who starts it.  

I know that Ross is highly a crypto person and is only using available innovations afforded to him by crypto but I personally would prefer to buy those artworks themselves than the tokens that are supposed to represent them.

[avikz]

That's a good initiative. Especially when NFTs are digital junk. It has no use in real life so it's good to sell those junk to some people sitting on extra cash (and to those who believe angels are real) and using the same cash for the underprivileged people. At least one real use of NFTs are found. Lol!

Congratulations Ross! This is the first time I am seeing a real use of NFT to be honest. Otherwise, NFTs are just a digital file sitting on your computer's hard drive.

[mk4]

Otherwise, NFTs are just a digital file sitting on your computer's hard drive.

You can like or hate NFTs and call it nonsense or "innovative"(and I understand the arguments of both sides), but if you think that NFTs are digital files on your hard drive, you need to do a bit of reading mate.

[leea-1334]

I suddenly have a question to ask now and we all know the guy from his adventures with Bitcoin but why does anyone not want to create NFTs on Bitcoin? Or is this not possible or easy to do? As far as I know sidetokens have been made before but maybe they were all not non-fungible?

Anyway, I do not think people need to be angry with him,,, if it is for charity, why should anyone be angry with it?

[mk4]

I suddenly have a question to ask now and we all know the guy from his adventures with Bitcoin but why does anyone not want to create NFTs on Bitcoin? Or is this not possible or easy to do? As far as I know sidetokens have been made before but maybe they were all not non-fungible?

Anyway, I do not think people need to be angry with him,,, if it is for charity, why should anyone be angry with it?

Because the Bitcoin "sidechains" like Sovryn and Stacks has their own token; and the vocal Bitcoin maximalists aren't fan of such tokens. Or the more likely reason: maybe Ross Ulbricht and etc just prefer to run the NFT auction on a chain that people actually use for NFTs — Ethereum. It just makes more sense if the goal was to actually pool money.

[Kakmakr]

This sounds sincere .... "“With this NFT, I see a chance to make a difference…My own future may look bleak, but I can still do a little something to heal the damage I see all around me.” ..... Source : https://freeross.org/nft

I think .. this is the real reason why he is doing this .. " Portrayals of Ross Ulbricht’s case and story have been misleading. This NFT auction is an opportunity to bring renewed attention to his plight and gain support from NFT communities and collectors. " - Source : https://freeross.org/nft

"Uncageable" is my favorite ....  

If this was done for his own profit.... then this would have been wrong, but the fact that it is all going towards a charity.. is good! FreeRoss!!

[Ucy]

I believe the only way he can find purpose in this life is to know his CREATOR, by always reading and believing in HIS Words.
That's also the only way he can be freed from both physical and spiritual prisons and be allowed to quickly go and be what he was created to be, which is to serve the CREATOR in holiness and righteousness.

Once he sees the prison as a place of correction or punishment for wrong deeds, he will probably understand that to obtain pardon he has to repent and ask for mercy and grace from his CREATOR. HE is the only ONE that can free or allow any prisoner to be freed. Before this world was created by HIM, HE knew any of the prisoner will be sent to prison and HE allowed it for a reason.

I wish his siblings and Mother could be here so we can rightly advice her on how to get him released quickly. I actually campaigned for his released couple of years ago... which probably got me kicked out of Twitter back then. I strongly believe things can be done way better this time around. I feel disappointed sometimes that people do not realize the authority that has been given to a true believer here. Just waiting for other members to wake up and remember that we are truely on a journey out of the System/Matrix/Egypt and the ruler of the evil system is under GOD's Power and our power. We are moving to a better system with greater power.
If Ross has truely repented and is asked to be freed by the HOLY ONES, who can dare prevent him from being released?

[kryptqnick]

I think it's a great initiative because of what it aims to do and what it collects the money for. I still can't believe he got a life sentence without the possibility of parole. In my opinion, he didn't even commit much of a crime, honestly, and definitely spent enough time in prison for what he did already. It's a way of embracing new technologies while also doing important fundraising, and it's actually a case when making NFTs makes sense to me. And it's not like Bitcoin is particularly suitable for NFTs. Also, with his story with Bitcoin, I'm not surprised he's trying something else.

[Gyfts]

Was Ross Ulbricht ever explicitly pro-Bitcoin? His Wikipedia page described his libertarian bend on economic theory and his belief of a commerce platform with complete anonymity. Bitcoin isn't necessary anonymous, every transaction is recorded and of public record.  Life sentence seems harsh, though the US likes to make examples out of anyone involved in drug related crimes so there isn't a chance in hell he's ever going to get out.

[DeathAngel]

I’m not keen on the whole NFT craze but I am saddened by the reaction to Ross over this. He is already suffering from what I consider overly harsh sentencing so cut the guy some slack. Whilst Silk Road did have some shady services, Ross wasn’t the one directly doing them. He is an important figure in bitcoins early life, show him some respect.

[TheNineClub]

Free Ross Ulbricht! That being out of the way, I just can't get with the NFT craze. I don't get what's the fuss. At least he is doing it for charity so I do applaud that, but wherever I turn someone is putting out their NFT. I get people buying the Ulbricht NFT for charity and due to him having past and legal issues he has, to support his work, but why would I buy a Kardashian NFT? I'm just...I don't get it.

[milewilda]

The goal is commendable, but how transparent is the charity? Will they show how much money is collected and how the money is used?

Anyway, I do not think people need to be angry with him,,, if it is for charity, why should anyone be angry with it?

Perhaps it's because they focus on the person (Ross) rather than the charity goal.

Normal behaviour for a human being to be judgemental which it isnt surprising that they would be basically be focusing on their mistakes or involvement in the past or aslong they could able to criticize which it isnt really surprising.

The goal is indeed comendable but i do have the same questions too in regards transparency which is always been the issue imho.
Just like others im not really with that NFT craze but for this purpose then its considerable.

[AmoreJaz]

The goal is commendable, but how transparent is the charity? Will they show how much money is collected and how the money is used?

Anyway, I do not think people need to be angry with him,,, if it is for charity, why should anyone be angry with it?

Perhaps it's because they focus on the person (Ross) rather than the charity goal.

Normal behaviour for a human being to be judgemental which it isnt surprising that they would be basically be focusing on their mistakes or involvement in the past or aslong they could able to criticize which it isnt really surprising.

The goal is indeed comendable but i do have the same questions too in regards transparency which is always been the issue imho.
Just like others im not really with that NFT craze but for this purpose then its considerable.

i think you just need to trust his words if you want to contribute on his mission. we can't tell how honest or transparent this initiative will be but if he can truly help those families, that would be great.
if this NFT collection will change the life of some of those people who will benefit from this, then, i have no problem with this Ross' idea. of course, if he may keep something for himself also, i think that's understandable.

[Hydrogen]

Ross Ulbricht. I think his username on silkroad was Dread Pirate Roberts. He claimed he inherited Silk Road from the previous Dread Pirate Roberts. Which was hilarious at the time, before he got arrested and charged.

Its good for him to do projects like this, which put his name out there in the public eye. The more attention he can garner for himself and his criminal case. The more likely it is he might earn better terms for his prison sentence. NFTs are a good place to start. Although I don't think that anyone will hear about this aside from the more hard core and die hard crypto users.

If I remember right, feds posed as contract killers and offered to -eliminate- people threatening Ross Ulbricht and silkroad (who might also have been feds). He replied "ok" to the offer. That's where some of his criminal charges came from (correct me if I'm in error here).

I like Ross Ulbricht and wish him well. Hope he's freed from prison soon. It could be one of those tragic cases of someone simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[hatshepsut93]

Whilst Silk Road did have some shady services, Ross wasn’t the one directly doing them.

I believe his sentence is extremely harsh and unfair, but it was his job as the site's administrator to not allow any immoral trades on his platform.

Anyway, back to the topic, why does this have to be an NFT? Why not just sell his artworks physically? If the artworks are delivered physically, what's the point of this NFT? If not, where are guarantees that they ever will?

[Vannie12]

Good for him, some people still do not realize their faults even going through hell and locked up. I think the idea of his charity is 'kinda' interesting and admiring. But initiating it with a specific token(somehow fits the idea) makes me feel that his like promoting NFT. Any thoughts, will it pump it ?

[cr1776]

Free Ross Ulbricht! That being out of the way, I just can't get with the NFT craze. I don't get what's the fuss. At least he is doing it for charity so I do applaud that, but wherever I turn someone is putting out their NFT. I get people buying the Ulbricht NFT for charity and due to him having past and legal issues he has, to support his work, but why would I buy a Kardashian NFT? I'm just...I don't get it.

That is my thought on it too.  The NFT craze seems to be a lot of hot air.

Regarding RU, he certainly took a big chance with SR and is paying the price, probably an excessively steep one.  He doesn't have as much of the potentially positive, obvious, motivations that Snowden or Assange has since both were/are attempting to stop abuses. Deeper down he does in terms of his devotion to "free adults being able to live their lives without being controlled" but that is a much harder sell than their motives. They have then"we're not doing this for profit" angle too.  Unless he gets a pardon, he is stuck and I doubt any of the three would be pardoned by Biden.

[suzanne5223]

Otherwise, NFTs are just a digital file sitting on your computer's hard drive.

You can like or hate NFTs and call it nonsense or "innovative"(and I understand the arguments of both sides), but if you think that NFTs are digital files on your hard drive, you need to do a bit of reading mate.

It is very understandable that some people will never support NFT that's the reason why we see some people wearing a shirt that says "NFT is a scam" until it reaches about 5-10 years just like we see in Bitcoin and it might be late to hop on the boat then. This is the beautiful lesson I learnt through innovative ideas especially when it has to do with blockchain activities.

Having said that, it is good that Ross tries to do something that will help others and I saw one of his tweets where he said everything he did was supported by his wife and mother.

[mk4]

Was Ross Ulbricht ever explicitly pro-Bitcoin? His Wikipedia page described his libertarian bend on economic theory and his belief of a commerce platform with complete anonymity. Bitcoin isn't necessary anonymous, every transaction is recorded and of public record.  Life sentence seems harsh, though the US likes to make examples out of anyone involved in drug related crimes so there isn't a chance in hell he's ever going to get out.

Bitcoin's blockchain is public, but if you do proper coin control and use coinjoins, you can increase your privacy by a lot.

As for him being pro-bitcoin, you can check out his speech on Bitcoin Miami 2021 from months ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V_SkLxgQjQ

Anyway, back to the topic, why does this have to be an NFT? Why not just sell his artworks physically? If the artworks are delivered physically, what's the point of this NFT? If not, where are guarantees that they ever will?

Obviously I don't know his answer, but it's just either that he "likes" NFTs(or at least think it's interesting), or the most likely reason that it's pretty easy to pool a lot of money on NFTs if you have a big name.