Bitcoin whale pays off almost all Assange’s $500k jet fees in single transaction

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has received significant financial support from donors to cover the costs of his journey to freedom, as discovered by Alistair Milne, CIO of Altana Digital Currency Fund. As Assange prepares to return to Australia following his plea deal with US authorities, his wife Stella launched an urgent appeal for donations to cover a “massive USD 520,000 debt” owed to the Australian government for charter flights.

In a remarkable display of support, an anonymous donor contributed just over 8 BTC (approximately $500,000) to Assange’s cause within the past day. This single “Bitcoin whale” donation accounts for most of the required funds. The receiving address, ‘bc1qsq,’ matches the one listed on Assange’s donation page. Data from Arkham Intelligence traces the funds back to a CashApp deposit from February 2023.

Additionally, over £300,000 (roughly $380,000) has been raised through fiat currency donations.

According to Stella Assange, the chartered flights were necessary because Assange “was not permitted to fly commercial airlines or routes to Saipan and onward to Australia.” The journey includes a stop in Saipan, where Assange is set to appear before a US federal judge as part of his plea agreement.

The outpouring of financial support means that Assange is likely to arrive in Australia debt-free, thanks mainly to the generosity of supporters, particularly the anonymous Bitcoin donor. This development highlights the role of Bitcoin in facilitating rapid, large-scale financial support for high-profile causes.

As Assange’s legal saga comes to a close, the substantial donations spotlight the continued public interest in his case and the willingness of supporters to contribute to his return home. The WikiLeaks founder is expected to fly to Canberra, Australia, following his court appearance in Saipan, marking the end of a prolonged legal battle that has spanned over a decade.