AssangeDAO Was Instrumental in Freeing Julian Assange
AssangeDAO is a Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO) formed in 2022 by a collective of cypherpunks and activists who were committed to supporting the legal defence of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks. The DAO’s primary goal was to raise funds for Assange’s legal battles, leveraging the power of blockchain technology and the principles of decentralisation. Through the issuance of the JUSTICE governance token, AssangeDAO successfully raised over $53 million in Ethereum (ETH) via the Juicebox platform. These funds were used to bid on a unique NFT, created in collaboration between Assange and the digital artist Pak, titled “Clock 1/1.” The proceeds from the NFT auction were directed to the Wau Holland Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that has long supported Assange and WikiLeaks. The DAO spent $37 million on Assange’s legal defence before he was freed after a plea deal, earlier this year.
The creation of AssangeDAO marked a significant moment in the intersection of cryptocurrency and activism. The DAO’s ability to mobilise a substantial amount of funds in a short period highlighted the potential of decentralised platforms to bring together like-minded individuals for a common cause. The JUSTICE tokens issued to over 6,000 contributors not only represented their financial contribution but also provided them with governance rights within the DAO, allowing them to participate in decisions about the organisation’s future actions. This governance model empowered the community to take an active role in shaping the direction of the DAO, emphasising the decentralised nature of the organisation.
Despite its success in raising funds, AssangeDAO faced challenges, particularly in its governance structure. The decision to allocate the majority of the funds to the NFT auction sparked debates within the community, with some members advocating for a more diversified use of the funds. The decentralised and leaderless nature of the DAO also led to a sense of directionlessness at times, contributing to internal disagreements. However, the DAO remained committed to its core mission of supporting Assange, and its efforts were widely recognized as a significant contribution to his legal defence.
As Julian Assange’s legal battle has now finally concluded, AssangeDAO’s role in his defence remains a notable example of how decentralised organisations can be leveraged for social and political activism. The DAO’s impact on Assange’s case has demonstrated the potential of cryptocurrency to provide financial support in situations where traditional funding methods may be constrained.
A Legal Struggle Which Lasted Over A Decade
Julian Assange, became a prominent and controversial figure due to his role in publishing classified documents that exposed alleged government misconduct and war crimes, particularly related to U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. His legal troubles began in 2010 when Sweden issued an international arrest warrant for him over allegations of sexual misconduct, which Assange denied, claiming the charges were politically motivated. To avoid extradition to Sweden, which he feared could lead to further extradition to the United States, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012, where he remained confined for nearly seven years.
The U.S. government had been pursuing Assange for his role in publishing classified documents, charging him under the Espionage Act. In 2019, after Ecuador revoked his asylum status, British authorities arrested Assange at the embassy. This led to a prolonged legal battle in the UK courts, where Assange fought extradition to the United States. If extradited, he faced up to 175 years in prison on charges related to the publication of classified materials that the U.S. government argued had endangered lives and national security. However, Assange’s supporters contended that his actions were protected under freedom of the press and that his prosecution was a grave threat to journalistic freedom worldwide.
Throughout this period, Assange’s health deteriorated, and concerns over his well-being became a central issue in the legal proceedings. His defence argued that his extradition to the U.S. would expose him to inhumane conditions and that his mental and physical health would likely suffer irreparable harm. In 2021, a UK court ruled against his extradition on the grounds of his mental health, but this decision was appealed by the US government. As the legal battles dragged on, Assange remained in the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London.
In a surprising turn of events in 2024, Assange struck a plea deal with US authorities, allowing him to plead guilty to a single charge under the Espionage Act, which led to his release after more than a decade of legal turmoil. The deal marked the end of a 14-year saga that had seen Assange go from a globally recognized advocate for transparency to a prisoner fighting for his freedom. His release was hailed by supporters as a victory for press freedom, though the circumstances of his plea deal sparked ongoing debates about the implications for whistleblowers and journalists who expose government secrets.
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Assange’s Unlikely Role in Bring Bitcoin to the Attention of the Mainstream
Julian Assange, played an unexpected yet significant role in bringing Bitcoin into the public spotlight, particularly during the early days of the cryptocurrency. In 2010, WikiLeaks came under immense pressure from governments and financial institutions due to its controversial publications of classified government documents. In response, traditional payment processors like Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal blocked donations to WikiLeaks, effectively cutting off the organisation’s financial lifeline. Seeking alternative means of funding, WikiLeaks turned to Bitcoin, which was still in its infancy at the time. This move brought Bitcoin into mainstream attention as it provided a censorship-resistant way for people to support WikiLeaks, a cause that resonated with many who valued transparency and free speech.
However, this newfound attention on Bitcoin alarmed Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. At that time, Bitcoin was a relatively obscure project, still in its early stages of development, with a small community of enthusiasts and developers working to establish its foundation. Satoshi feared that the sudden influx of attention from WikiLeaks and its supporters could bring unwelcome scrutiny to Bitcoin from governments and regulatory authorities, potentially derailing the project before it had a chance to mature. Satoshi believed that Bitcoin was not yet ready to withstand such high-profile exposure and that it could be crushed under the weight of governmental pressure if it became too closely associated with WikiLeaks’ controversial activities.
In response to the news that WikiLeaks intended to accept Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto took to the BitcoinTalk forum, where the early Bitcoin community gathered, to express concern. In a now-famous post from December 2010, Satoshi implored WikiLeaks not to use Bitcoin, stating, “The project needs to grow gradually so the software can be strengthened along the way. I make this appeal to WikiLeaks not to try to use Bitcoin. Bitcoin is a small beta community in its infancy. You would not stand to get more than pocket change, and the heat you would bring would likely destroy us at this stage.” Satoshi’s plea highlighted the precarious position Bitcoin was in at the time, balancing on the edge of obscurity and global recognition.
Despite Satoshi’s concerns, WikiLeaks ultimately decided to accept Bitcoin, and the move did indeed bring Bitcoin into the global spotlight. While the initial fears of government crackdown did not materialise to the extent Satoshi had feared, the association with WikiLeaks undoubtedly accelerated Bitcoin’s rise to prominence. The incident demonstrated the power of Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom and censorship resistance, attracting a new wave of users who saw it as more than just a digital currency but as a vehicle for social and political change. In hindsight, this event marked a pivotal moment in Bitcoin’s history, both boosting its adoption and setting the stage for future debates about the balance between privacy, freedom, and the law in the cryptocurrency arena.
The JUSTICE Token is Available on Bitfinex, Here’s How to Buy
How to buy JUSTICE with crypto
1. Log in to your Bitfinex account or sign up to create one.
2. Go to the Deposit page.
3. In the Cryptocurrencies section, choose the crypto you plan to buy JUSTICE with and generate a deposit address on the Exchange wallet.
4. Send the crypto to the generated deposit address.
5. Once the funds arrive in your wallet, you can trade them for JUSTICE. Learn how to trade on Bitfinex here.
How to buy JUSTICE with fiat
1. Log in to your Bitfinex account or sign up to create one.
2. You need to get full verification to be able to deposit fiat to your Bitfinex account. Learn about different verification levels here.
3. On the Deposit page, under the Bank Wire menu, choose the fiat currency of your deposit. There’s a minimum amount for fiat deposits on Bitfinex; learn more here.
4. Check your Bitfinex registered email for the wire details.
5. Send the funds.
6. Once the funds arrive in your wallet, you can use them to buy JUSTICE.
Also, we have Bitfinex on mobile, so you can easily buy JUSTICE currency while on-the-go.
[ AppStore] [ Google Play]
JUSTICE Community Channels
Website | X (Twitter) | Discord | Substack | Facebook | Reddit | AssangeDAO Forum
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