A Bitcoin enthusiast has assisted Julian Assange in clearing a substantial debt, helping to bring an end to his 14-year legal battle against extradition to the United States.
WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange has finally gained his freedom after a prolonged fight against extradition to the U.S. An anonymous Bitcoin donor contributed over 8 Bitcoin, valued at around $500,000, to help Assange’s family settle the debt accumulated from his legal and travel expenses.
Release from Belmarsh Prison
On June 24, Assange was released from Belmarsh prison, a high-security facility in the United Kingdom, following a plea deal with U.S. authorities. Immediately after his release, he flew from a London airport to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, on a private plane.
Assange appeared in a district court in Saipan on June 26, where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of violating the U.S. Espionage Act by leaking classified documents. This journey was carefully planned to avoid Assange setting foot on American soil.
Bitcoin Donation Aids Assange’s Journey to Freedom
Stella Assange, Julian’s wife, mentioned in an interview that “freedom comes at a cost.” Assange was required to pay $520,000 to the Australian government for the forced chartering of flight VJ199 to travel to Saipan and then to Australia.
On June 25, Stella Assange shared a donation link, and within 10 hours, an anonymous Bitcoiner donated over 8 Bitcoin to the fund, nearly meeting the $520,000 target. Additionally, over £300,000 (about $380,000) in fiat donations have been collected so far.
This significant Bitcoin donation was the largest contribution to the fund, exceeding all other donations combined. Consequently, Assange will arrive in Australia without any debt.
Summary Review: Julian Assange’s journey to freedom has been significantly supported by the generosity of an anonymous Bitcoin donor. This contribution has helped clear a substantial debt, facilitating his release and allowing him to start anew without financial burdens.
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