According to CIO Alistair Milne of Altana Digital Currency Fund, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has received significant financial support from donors to cover the costs of his journey to find freedom. As Assange prepares to return to Australia following his plea deal with US authorities, his wife Stella has launched an urgent appeal for donations to cover the “huge $520,000 debt” owed by the Australian government. request for unscheduled flights that are not on the regular airline’s route.
In a notable show of support, an anonymous donor contributed more than 8 BTC (about $500,000) to Assange’s cause yesterday. This single “Bitcoin whale” donation accounts for the majority of the funds needed. The receiving address “bc1qsq” matches the address listed on Assange’s donation page. Data from Arkham Intelligence shows how much money was deposited CashApp from February 2023.
Additionally, more than 300,000 pounds (about $380,000) was raised through fiat donations.
Trade Bitcoin with Assange | Source: Alistair Milne
According to Stella Assange, these flights were necessary because Assange “is not authorized to fly on commercial airlines or routes to Saipan and then to Australia.” The journey stopped in Saipan and Assange will appear before a US federal judge here as part of his plea agreement.
The massive financial backing meant Assange was able to travel to Australia debt-free, largely thanks to the generosity of his supporters, especially his anonymous Bitcoin donor. This development highlights Bitcoin’s role in facilitating rapid, large-scale financing for high-profile purposes.
As Assange’s legal saga draws to a close, the substantial donations reflect continued public interest in his case and the willingness of supporters to contribute to his return to his homeland. The WikiLeaks founder is expected to fly to Canberra, Australia, after appearing in court in Saipan, formally ending a legal battle that has lasted more than a decade.
Minh Anh
According to Cryptoslate
