AssangeDAO Raises $47M In Ethereum To Free WikiLeaks Founder

A group of crypto investors that describe themselves as “a collective of cypherpunks fighting for the liberation of Julian Assange” has raised over $47 million in Ethereum ETH/USD for the cause.

What Happened: The AssangeDAO – a decentralized autonomous organization – aims to raise ETH in return for the $JUSTICE governance token to bid on a 1/1 NFT produced by digital artist Pak in collaboration with Assange.

Proceeds raised from the NFT sale will reportedly go towards Assange's defense fund for legal fees, as well as a campaign to raise awareness about the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition case. Assange faces a 175-year prison sentence if he is extradited to the United States.

As of Tuesday morning, the DAO had raised 15,368 ETH worth $47,188,058.72 at current prices.

The large sum was raised in under a week making AssangeDAO the most successful JuiceBox DAO raise in history. JuiceBox is the community funding platform that is hosting the campaign.

FreeRossDAO, which raised $12 million to free Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, served as the inspiration for the formation of AssangeDAO.

Trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and More Instantly — No Wallets, No Hassle

Speculate on price movements, claim up to $200 in bonuses, and start with risk-free paper trading with crypto futures on Plus500.

Disclosure: 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money

The fundraiser saw participation from several big names in the crypto space, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin who donated 10 ETH worth $31,000.

National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden also commented on the rate at which AssangeDAO had managed to raise funds, saying it looked very much like a “protest vote against the White House's abuse of the Espionage Act.”

Also Read: They Failed To Buy The US Constitution, But Golf Courses And Sports Teams May Be Next: The Latest On The World Of DAOs

Photo: Courtesy of Anarchimedia on Flickr

$ETHEthereum

$2401.70-3.86%