An anonymous bitcoin donor has paid more than $500,000 in btc to cover WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's expenses on his return flight to Australia. Assange is now a free man after pleading guilty in a US court under a deal that ended his 14-year legal battle.
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ONLY IN: twitter.com/hashtag/bitcoin?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#bitcoin Pioneer and freedom fighter Julian Assange has landed in Australia. He is officially a free man!
A victory for freedom of expression and freedom pic.twitter.com/lDyPabqa8u
– bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) twitter.com/BitcoinMagazine/status/1805907651701711116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 26, 2024
Assange was released from prison in the United Kingdom on June 24 and flew to the US territory of Saipan to plead guilty. He had been fighting extradition to the United States on espionage charges related to WikiLeaks' publication of classified documents.
On June 26, Assange returned to his native Australia and hugged his relatives in Canberra. He has been a pioneer of bitcoin and WikiLeaks since their inception, even receiving donations in btc in 2010 when few knew about it.
Just one day earlier, to cover the $520,000 cost of her private charter flight arranged by the Australian government, Assange's wife x.com/Stella_Assange/status/1805573781303308326″>issued an urgent appeal
Surprisingly, a single bitcoin donor sent 8 btc worth almost $500,000 to the management to cover the entire debt. This allowed Assange to return home without financial burden.
The anonymous donor's enormous contribution highlights the bitcoin community's enduring support for Assange and his work revealing government secrets. Bitcoiners have long advocated for its release.
While the identity of the whale remains unknown, the donation underlines bitcoin's role in enabling free speech and financial freedom without censorship.
The next few weeks will focus on helping Assange recover after a prolonged confinement. However, given his long history with the technology, his commitment to bitcoin is likely to continue. The Assange saga symbolized the battle between individual freedoms and unchecked government power.
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