Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Trump on Thursday in his first public remarks since receiving the commander in chief’s pardon that freed him from a life sentence.

Thank you so much, President Trump for giving me this amazing blessing. I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back, to have a second chance.” Ulbricht

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison for running an underground online marketplace where drug dealers and others conducted more than $200 million in illicit trade using bitcoin.