Julian Assange Freed After Plea Deal, Crypto Enthusiasts Seek Donations

• Julian Assange freed after plea deal with U.S. DOJ, ending legal battle.
• AssangeDAO raised 16,500 ETH for legal costs, facing calls for transparency.
• WikiLeaks accepted Bitcoin donations, sustaining operations during financial blockades.
• Assange's release marks end of jail time, using private jet funded by crypto enthusiasts.
• Assange pleads guilty to espionage, avoids extradition to U.S., faces 5-year sentence.
• Assange's history with crypto intertwined, from WikiLeaks donations to AssangeDAO support.

Summary :
Julian Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks, has been freed after reaching a plea deal with the U.S. Department of Justice. This marks the end of his long legal battle, which included five years in a U.K. jail and nearly seven years in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. AssangeDAO played a crucial role in funding his defense, raising over 16,500 ETH (worth $55.2 million) for legal costs and campaigning. The relationship between WikiLeaks and cryptocurrency dates back to 2011 when the site started accepting Bitcoin donations. Crypto enthusiasts are now looking to fund the cost of Assange's private jet expenses, with some suggesting accepting crypto donations. Assange's release is seen as a victory for the values of a free and open web.

Sources :

- Bankless
- Protos
- Protos
- Coindesk
- CoinTelegraph
- Protos