Why won't people donate via bitcoins to Wikileaks?

[chungenhung]

I am sure most people have heard that VISA, master, paypal, and western union all stopped processing payments to Wikileaks.
Why don't people just donate via bitcoins? nobody can stop the transaction.

[miscreanity]

nobody can stop the transaction

Because it is difficult to work with bitcoins, please read this post:
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=49439

As heinous as your experience with Mt. Gox has been, that had nothing to do with Bitcoin directly and it is still a viable means. Transfers within the Bitcoin system itself are much more reliable, and just-in-time transfers and withdrawals can be made using preferred exchanges. If a reputable prior relationship is established, there should be no reason for Mt. Gox or any other exchange to withhold funds - especially post-hack. Just-in-time transfers and withdrawals means that a minimum of funds will be at risk at any point.

Your situation:
User -> Exchange -> X

Direct donation via Bitcoin:
Donor -> Bitcoin -> Wikileaks

Withdrawal of funds immediately following transfer:
Wikileaks -> Bitcoin -> Exchange (Mt. Gox, TradeHill, etc) -> local currency

If Wikileaks' use of Bitcoin winds up lending the crypto-currency credibility, there may be some businesses that agree to accept payment in BTC. That would be essentially a private contract between two parties and the validity stands so long as BTCs still have value. This would make the direct donation situation above realistically possible.

Smart management is all that's required.

[Technomage]

People ARE donating with Bitcoins. This is their public donation address: http://blockexplorer.com/address/1HB5XMLmzFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD4miY36v

As you can see, there have been a good amount of transactions after they announced that they're under a financial blockade. And that's only the public address, some people have most likely donated to a unique address.

[TiagoTiago]

Where do they state that is their public address for donations?

[Matthew N. Wright]

Where do they state that is their public address for donations?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=wikileaks+bitcoin+address

http://twitter.com/#!/wikileaks/status/80774521350668288

WikiLeaks now accepts anonymous Bitcoin donations on 1HB5XMLmzFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD4miY36v

[TiagoTiago]

Ok, seems legit, i was just a bit suspicious about an address being suggested out of context; i've seen people insert their own address pretending it was someone else's like that, mostly as jokes, and one or two threads discussing such type of "attack".

[Gabi]

Buying bitcoins is the problem, it is possible but is not so easy

[Gabi]

And expensive as hell

[Internet151]

This forum is probably the wrong place to ask. I'd be curious how your average person would respond, I'm guessing they just don't know or haven't thought of it.

[Gabi]

A normal guy 1)probably doesn't know bitcoin 2)when he discover it, he is stopped by the fact that buying bitcoins is not easy.

DialCoin is helping people buying them, that's sure, especially if they manage to get better prices

[HorseRider]

dial coin's fee is high

[Matthew N. Wright]

dial coin's fee is high

Since working with payment processors and mobile service carriers is not a typical activity of the average consumer, I fully expect most of the public to say something like 'DialCoin charges too much'. People need to understand that SMS is expensive, no matter how you cut it. If you're looking for 100BTC cheap, do not use SMS. If DialCoin sold bitcoins for their exchange price, it would effectively bankrupt.

There are some other services aside from SMS being added this fall/winter that should handle this though. ^_^

[thedrs]

People ARE donating with Bitcoins. This is their public donation address: http://blockexplorer.com/address/1HB5XMLmzFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD4miY36v

As you can see, there have been a good amount of transactions after they announced that they're under a financial blockade. And that's only the public address, some people have most likely donated to a unique address.

from the wikileaks donation page bitcoin section:

For maximum security and anonymity, you can request a one-time Bitcoin address. To do so, please join our IRC and type /msg Bitcoin new. Our helpful bot will generate a new donation address for each transaction. Please make sure Bot is active on #bitcoin channel and has @ to the left of his nick.

I assume most donations used that channel