"Crypto Saved Julian Assange" his brother says, after BTC donation covers travel

Julian Assange's half-brother, Gabriel Shipton, credited the crypto community for saving Assange from a bleak future by raising $53 million in ETH through the AssangeDAO decentralized autonomous organization. This funding enabled Assange to mount a legal defense against the U.S. government's prosecution for leaking state secrets. The crypto donations not only supported his legal fees but also facilitated political advocacy efforts by Assange's family members, including lobbying trips to Australia and the U.S. The connection between WikiLeaks and crypto dates back to Bitcoin's early days, with WikiLeaks turning to BTC donations after being blacklisted from traditional payment methods. Assange's use of technology and encryption to disseminate information aligns with the ethos of many in the crypto community. Following Assange's guilty plea, a Bitcoin donation of approximately $500,000 was received to cover his travel and recovery expenses. Shipton highlighted the intertwined trajectories of Assange's freedom and the evolution of crypto technologies, emphasizing the significance of truthful information dissemination. Assange's return to Australia brought relief as he reunited with his family after years of legal battles.