Bitcoin
Bitcoin pioneer Julian Assange free from prison – leaves UK after reaching deal with US
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, was released from Belmarsh Prison in the UK after reaching a plea deal with US authorities, marking a significant development in his long legal saga. WikiLeaks said Assange left the maximum security prison on June 24, 2024, after spending 1,901 days there.
The WikiLeaks X account posted,
“Julian Assange is free. He left Belmarsh maximum security prison on the morning of June 24, having spent 1,901 days there. He was granted bail by the High Court in London and was released at Stansted Airport in the afternoon, where he boarded a plane and departed the UK.”
Assange was granted bail by the High Court in London and released at Stansted Airport, where he boarded a plane and left the United Kingdom. He is expected to plead guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defense documents. The sentence, where he will be credited for the 62 months already served, will take place on the island of Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Assange’s wife, Stella, counted the BBC,
“The important thing here is that the agreement involved a prison sentence – that if he signed it, he could go free. He will be a free man as soon as he is approved by a judge and that will happen tomorrow.”
This development marks a potential end to Assange’s protracted legal battle, which began with WikiLeaks’ publication of confidential U.S. documents in 2010. The plea deal, if approved by a judge, would end the U.S. government’s pursuit of Assange and allow he would return to Australia. after years of confinement.
Stella Assange described her emotions after Julian’s release,
“I mean, I’m just elated,” she said. “Frankly, it’s just incredible. It feels like it’s not real […] We weren’t sure until the last 24 hours if this was actually happening.”
Assange’s role in Bitcoin
WikiLeaks began accepting Bitcoin donations in 2011, becoming an early adopter of high-profile cryptocurrencies. Satoshi himself he said, “It would have been nice to receive this attention in any other context.” WikiLeaks has kicked the hornet’s nest and the swarm is heading our way. WikiLeaks’ adoption of Bitcoin provided crucial funding for the organization when it faced financial roadblocks, while also increasing Bitcoin’s legitimacy and utility.
In a 2014 interview, Assange called Bitcoin “the most interesting thing on the internet” and praised its potential beyond payments, particularly its ability to provide globally verifiable proof publishing at a given point in time. Since then, Bitcoin’s value has risen dramatically, demonstrating the prescience of Assange’s assessment.
During Assange’s legal battles, supporters created a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) to fund its defense, raising over 16,500 Ether – equivalent to over $55.2 million at current prices. This innovative use of cryptographic technology emphasizes the interconnected history of WikiLeaks, freedom of information, and the rise of cryptocurrencies as tools for financial sovereignty and resistance against censorship.
As Assange prepares for his court appearance in Saipan, the international community awaits further details on the finalization of the plea deal and his return to Australia. This development not only marks a significant moment in Assange’s personal journey, but also highlights ongoing debates around press freedom, government transparency and the role of cryptocurrencies in supporting controversial causes.