Who is Julian Assange and what did he do to change the history of Bitcoin?

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Julian Assange is an Australian journalist, programmer and activist, known mainly for being the founder of WikiLeaks, an organization that publishes classified and confidential documents of public interest. Born on July 3, 1971, Assange has become a controversial figure due to his activities related to the disclosure of secret information of governments and large corporations.

Involvement in WikiLeaks

Founded in 2006, WikiLeaks rose to international fame in 2010 when it published a series of US military and diplomatic documents leaked by Chelsea Manning. These publications included the "Afghanistan War Diaries", the "Iraq War Diaries" and more than 250,000 diplomatic cables, causing a huge media stir and diplomatic tensions.

Relationship with Bitcoin

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks played a notable role in the history of Bitcoin in several aspects:

1. Bitcoin Early Adoption:

• In 2010, after leaks of US documents, several companies, including PayPal, Visa and MasterCard, blocked donations to WikiLeaks. In response, WikiLeaks began accepting donations in Bitcoin. This early adoption helped legitimize and popularize Bitcoin as an alternative, censorship-resistant digital currency.

1. Promotion and Visibility:

• By adopting Bitcoin at a time when the cryptocurrency was relatively unknown, WikiLeaks brought Bitcoin to the attention of the technology and financial community. This visibility helped Bitcoin gain more users and recognition.

1. Influence on the Value of Bitcoin:

• Although it is difficult to quantify exactly the impact of WikiLeaks on the value of Bitcoin, it is widely recognized that WikiLeaks' association with Bitcoin in 2010 and 2011 contributed to an increase in the price of the cryptocurrency. Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, expressed concern at the time about the attention WikiLeaks was drawing to Bitcoin, fearing it could lead to premature regulatory scrutiny.

Impact on Bitcoin History

• Resistance to Censorship: WikiLeaks' decision to accept Bitcoin demonstrated the usefulness of cryptocurrencies as a means of transaction that is resistant to censorship and government control.
• Boost Adoption: Publicity and indirect support from WikiLeaks helped promote the adoption of Bitcoin among a broader audience, including activists, technologists, and people concerned about privacy and financial freedom.

In short, Julian Assange, through WikiLeaks, helped put Bitcoin on the world map, demonstrating its usefulness as a censorship-resistant digital currency and contributing to its early adoption and popularity.