Julian Assange Reaches Plea Deal With U.S. DoJ

As an analyst with a background in technology and international relations, I’ve closely followed the intriguing relationship between Julian Assange and cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin and Wikileaks.

Julian Assange is free.

The Wikileaks co-founder, who had spent the previous five years in a British jail cell and nearly seven years seeking refuge in Ecuador’s embassy in London, made his exit from the United Kingdom by boarding a private jet at Stanstead airport on X.

After lengthy discussions between Julian Assange and the US Department of Justice, a resolution has reportedly been reached, though the specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed for now.

I, as an analyst, would rephrase it this way: In the U.K., I, Assange, was apprehended for violating my bail terms after I had sought refuge in Ecuador’s London Embassy with the intention of avoiding extradition on multiple charges. Among these charges were those pertaining to my involvement in publishing classified documents obtained by Chelsea Manning.

Manning had her own sentence commuted in 2013 by then-President Obama.

After his first destination, which is Saipan – the capital city of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory – Assange will likely receive a five-year sentence. However, this term will be reduced by the five years he has already spent in detention in the United Kingdom.

Wikileaks and Crypto

The history of Wikileaks and crypto has been closely intertwined.

In a 2014 interview, Assange said that bitcoin and Wikileaks helped keep each other alive.

As a crypto investor looking back at history, I recall how WikiLeaks initially shied away from accepting Bitcoin to avoid drawing unwanted government attention that could potentially stifle the cryptocurrency’s growth following a personal plea from Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto. However, when facing financial constraints and in need of funding, WikiLeaks embraced Bitcoin, using it for donations. This decision not only provided essential funds for WikiLeaks but also significantly boosted Bitcoin’s legitimacy and utility within the financial landscape.

Back in 2017, with unfounded reports swirling around about my demise, I took it upon myself to quell any doubts by sharing the most recent Bitcoin block hash as an unmistakable sign of life.