Julian Assange, co-founder of WikiLeaks, has pled guilty to a single espionage charge in exchange for a sentence equivalent to the time he has already served, leading to his release. After spending five years in a UK prison and nearly seven years seeking asylum in Ecuador’s London embassy, Assange departed the UK via a private jet from Stansted Airport, as announced by WikiLeaks on X (formerly Twitter).
Assange’s release follows extensive negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, resulting in a deal that remains to be formally finalized. Initially arrested in the UK for breaching bail conditions, Assange had sought refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid extradition on multiple charges, including the publication of classified documents provided by Chelsea Manning. Manning’s own prison sentence was commuted by President Obama in 2013.
Assange’s first destination is Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, where he is expected to receive a five-year sentence. However, with credit for the time already served in the UK, this effectively means he will not serve additional prison time.
WikiLeaks and cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, have had a significant and intertwined history. In a 2014 interview, Assange noted that Bitcoin and WikiLeaks supported each other’s survival. Initially, WikiLeaks avoided accepting Bitcoin to prevent government interference, following a personal request from Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. However, during a financial blockade, WikiLeaks began accepting Bitcoin for donations, which was crucial for its funding and also bolstered Bitcoin’s credibility and use.
In 2017, to dispel rumors of his death, Assange read out the latest Bitcoin block hash as proof of life. Throughout his legal challenges with the U.S. and UK governments, Assange and his supporters turned to a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) for fundraising, amassing over 16,500 ether (valued at more than $55.2 million at current prices) to support his defense.
Assange’s journey and the role of cryptocurrency in supporting his endeavors highlight the intersection of digital finance and activism, as well as the ongoing impact of WikiLeaks on global politics and information dissemination.
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