Julian Assange’s Views on Bitcoin After Release

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, recently made headlines as he was released from a UK prison after spending five years incarcerated. Throughout his lengthy legal struggles against various governments, Assange utilized cryptocurrency to fuel global fundraising efforts aimed at securing his freedom. A recently resurfaced video from before his arrest showcases Assange’s admiration for cryptocurrencies as a potent tool for promoting freedom.

In a video from September 2014, Assange, as shared by MicroStrategy executive chairman Michael Saylor, lauds Bitcoin as the most intriguing intellectual advancement on the internet since its emergence in 2009. He describes Bitcoin as a cryptographically supported and multi-jurisdictional currency, making it challenging for any single entity to manipulate it for personal gain.

In the years following Assange’s endorsement of Bitcoin, nations like El Salvador and companies such as Strike have embraced Bitcoin for facilitating inexpensive and immediate global remittances. Additionally, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have emerged as vital resources for funding global humanitarian causes, including Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russia and Israel’s aid for victims of Hamas.

Assange emphasizes that one of Bitcoin’s key strengths lies in its capacity to protect itself and its users against even the most formidable adversaries. He underscores Bitcoin’s ability to uphold a ledger of immutable events through its blockchain, thereby challenging the notion that controlling the present enables control over the past.

Bitcoin has been frequently employed to circumvent sanctions imposed by governments, as demonstrated by the Canadian Trucker convoy turning to Bitcoin for fundraising amid restrictions from conventional payment platforms during their protests against vaccine mandates. Assange himself resorted to cryptocurrency for financial support while detained in the UK, raising over $54 million in ETH through AssangeDAO.

Assange foresees a significant expansion in Bitcoin’s utility based on its fundamental premise of proving specific contracts occurred at precise times on a global scale. This aspect of Bitcoin’s functionality underscores its potential for widespread adoption and application in various scenarios.

In conclusion, Assange’s advocacy for cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, as tools for promoting freedom, fundraising for noble causes, and overcoming financial barriers, highlights the evolving role of digital assets in shaping global movements and challenging conventional financial systems.