[2019-04-13]WikiLeaks Receives $20,000 in Bitcoin (BTC) Donations 24 Hours After

[cybersofts]

WikiLeaks Receives $20,000 in Bitcoin (BTC) Donations 24 Hours After the Arrest of Julian Assange



In the early hours of April 11, 2019, WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange was arrested by UK police for extradition to the United States, where he will face trial for the unauthorized disclosure of classified government documents.

Ecuador withdrew Assange’s asylum status at its London embassy, where Assange had been allowed to seek refuge since 2012. Following the withdrawal of Ecuador’s support, Assange was dragged out of the embassy while holding a copy of ‘Gore Vidal: History of the National Security State.’

WikiLeaks asserts that the withdrawal of asylum was politically motivated.

Assange’s arrest is the culmination of a years-long legal battle over his extradition and efforts by the US government to convict him on computer hacking charges for the widespread dissemination of classified documents in concert with whistleblower Bradley Manning (now Chelsea Manning). The documents, which included 391,832 United States Army field reports, were published on the internet on October 22, 2010 and became the biggest leak in US military history.

Assange’s arrest immediately prompted WikiLeaks to make an urgent plea for donations to its official defense fund.

    URGENT: Julian Assange has been arrested by UK police.

    DONATE:https://t.co/vvbZBOgCwL

    — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2019

With the support of Pamela Anderson and other high-profile names, the fund received $20,000 donations in 24 hours, reports Bitcoinist. Donations are also being made with Zcash which gives the sender and their transaction extra layers of privacy.

Its use of Bitcoin donations have proved useful over the years as it circumvented bans by payment providers like PayPal and Visa. WikiLeaks has received over 4,000 Bitcoin ($22 million) donations over the years.

Even with the donations, the rule of law and complex political climate may dampen the hopes of Assange supporters. After his arrest, he was taken to a police station before being presented to the magistrates court. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of not surrendering to court.

District Judge Michael Snow found him guilty, sending him away for sentencing. He faces up to 12 months in prison. Assange also faces a conspiracy to hack charge that could bring him an additional five years.

While being driven to the magistrates court, he gave a thumbs up. There was no smile.


Reference: https://dailyhodl.com/2019/04/12/wikileaks-receives-20000-in-bitcoin-btc-donations-24-hours-after-the-arrest-of-julian-assange/

[Kakmakr]

Bitcoin early adopters has a strong bond with what happened with WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange, because he did something that went against everything that his government stood for. His technology was used to expose the truth and it was also unstoppable, just like Bitcoin is today.

It is just normal for people to support someone that wants to expose the truth and someone that wants to go up against "The Man"  Let's forget about the profits and the "Bull market" for one moment and give our support to the people who are fighting for our freedom and for the truth. 

[vit05]

"It would have been nice to get this attention in any other context.  WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet's nest, and the swarm is headed towards us."

I will always consider that phrase a great enigma left by Satoshi. I think it's possible to draw a number of conclusions about Satoshi's positioning. Were his fears about Bitcoin not yet ready for massive use, or about government and society having the wrong impression about the use and possibilities offered by Bitcoin? Was he afraid they would put Bitcoin in the same category as the Liberty Reserve? Or that it had the same fate?

[elda34b]

"It would have been nice to get this attention in any other context.  WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet's nest, and the swarm is headed towards us."

I will always consider that phrase a great enigma left by Satoshi. I think it's possible to draw a number of conclusions about Satoshi's positioning. Were his fears about Bitcoin not yet ready for massive use, or about government and society having the wrong impression about the use and possibilities offered by Bitcoin? Was he afraid they would put Bitcoin in the same category as the Liberty Reserve? Or that it had the same fate?

I think the message is clear, he hopes that bitcoin can get a spotlight in another context instead of being framed as "currency that supports hackers".

Anyway, education should give better insight for people who want to understand what Bitcoin is. But that's the real challenge. Fighting prejudice is difficult but not impossible. We just need to work hard.

Assange arrest is definitely connected to Ecuador 'betrayal'. Hopefully, the donations could help WikiLeaks to continue what they're doing and be more independent from anyone who wants to interferes with their business.

[buwaytress]

"It would have been nice to get this attention in any other context.  WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet's nest, and the swarm is headed towards us."

I will always consider that phrase a great enigma left by Satoshi. I think it's possible to draw a number of conclusions about Satoshi's positioning. Were his fears about Bitcoin not yet ready for massive use, or about government and society having the wrong impression about the use and possibilities offered by Bitcoin? Was he afraid they would put Bitcoin in the same category as the Liberty Reserve? Or that it had the same fate?

Yeah, nice reminder, one of his last posts too and drives a lot of questions. When you consider that it was WL and not SR that prompted that kind of response, it also adds more complexity. I too, think this was more about timing than anything else. Bitcoin was at such a tender stage that it was still vulnerable to being quashed.

It shouldn't have not been foreseen though.

Some see this as evidence Bitcoin was never meant to be anti establishment (and dear old Craig Wright I believe insisted it was always pro-state heh) but then that very first message on Genesis block tells me all I need to know. Just my opinion.

[IconFirm]

5 quotes by the clown Trump on Wikileaks:

    October 10, 2016 in Wilkes-Barre, PA: "This just came out," Trump said. "WikiLeaks, I love WikiLeaks."

    October 12, 2016 in Ocala, FL: "This WikiLeaks stuff is unbelievable," Trump said. "It tells you the inner heart, you gotta read it."

    October 13, 2016 in Cincinnati, OH: "It's been amazing what's coming out on WikiLeaks."

    October 31, 2016 in Warren, MI: "Another one came in today," Trump said. "This WikiLeaks is like a treasure trove."

    November 4, 2016 in Wilmington, OH: "Getting off the plane, they were just announcing new WikiLeaks, and I wanted to stay there, but I didn't want to keep you waiting," said Trump. "Boy, I love reading those WikiLeaks."

Now, I like to think that the UK wouldn't entertain the US & their extradition of Julian to the US due to Trump being....well, Trump. The backlash in the UK would be a killer for an already under pressure Governmemnt & the press would go mad about it. I did notice that the fake rape charges that were dropped have suddenly been reinstated by Sweden (who drops rape charges if they were real anyway?) & am pretty sure that if they extradite him to Sweden to face those fake charges, Sweden will offer him to the US at the drop of a hat. It's an easy out for the UK which saves face.

What a shame the UK don't have the balls to stand up for Truth & journalistic free speech, which are the basis of any true democracy.

Gov#1: "We need to shut these damn truth telling journalists up"

Gov#2: "Lock them up, that'll shut them up"

Not if the voting people have their way.  Thanks for posting this article & helping bring attention to freedom of speech & human rights.

The guy should be given a medal.

[BitHodler]

Some see this as evidence Bitcoin was never meant to be anti establishment (and dear old Craig Wright I believe insisted it was always pro-state heh) but then that very first message on Genesis block tells me all I need to know. Just my opinion.

The genesis block is all that matters. Craig Wright is very likely a government spy or something. In no shape or form do people who were involved in Bitcoin early on agree with his statements that Bitcoin should be government friendly.

If Craig Wright turns out to be the entity trying to buy old mining addresses, which could very well be the case, then he is even more pathetic than I thought, and again a confirmation that he is very likely hired to shake up this space.

[Naida_BR]

WikiLeaks has the same vision and mission as Bitcoin.
Both want to expose this fraudalent system that has been created in people's back. We want the truth and truth is going to be revealed if we all fight for it. Wikileaks is an ally of Bitcoin and we had to support each other against the attacks of the fake established system.

[IconFirm]

Update on this, Bitcoin donations are now at ~$45,000 - & that's not including Zcash donations.

Great stuff.

[stomachgrowls]

Bitcoin early adopters has a strong bond with what happened with WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange, because he did something that went against everything that his government stood for. His technology was used to expose the truth and it was also unstoppable, just like Bitcoin is today.

It is just normal for people to support someone that wants to expose the truth and someone that wants to go up against "The Man"  Let's forget about the profits and the "Bull market" for one moment and give our support to the people who are fighting for our freedom and for the truth. 

Well said, sharing up some spare btc wont really hurt just to show some support.Im surprised that the allocated or donated amount do increase after a few days time.

This do shows that there are people who do really give out importance for those people who do have contribution on exposing the truth. These amounts do shows some sympathy on whats currently happening.