WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange recently received a significant donation of 8.07 bitcoin (BTC) from a single entity to cover the expenses of a private jet that flew him from the UK to Australia after he struck a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Initially, Assange’s wife Stella appealed for urgent financial support to raise £520,000 for the transportation costs. A crowdfunding page was set up to receive donations in fiat currency through credit cards or bank transfers. Due to the limitation of accepting crypto donations on the original site, a separate page was quickly created to accept bitcoin contributions.
The bitcoin address received a total of 34 donations, amounting to over $500,000. However, the majority of the funds came from the 8.07 BTC donation. The fiat donation page also received around $500,000 in contributions.
“Julian’s journey to freedom incurred a significant cost, as he now owes USD 520,000 to the Australian government for charter Flight VJ199,” explained Stella Assange. “He was restricted from using commercial airlines for the trip. Any form of contribution, whether large or small, is greatly appreciated.”
The Australian government arranged the private jet for Assange following his plea deal on espionage charges, which led to his release. Assange’s association with bitcoin dates back over a decade, with WikiLeaks relying on bitcoin for survival after being disconnected from traditional banking services. In a 2014 interview, Assange emphasized the vital role that bitcoin played in sustaining WikiLeaks during challenging times, stating that they “kept each other alive.”