Getty Image / Jack Taylor / Stringer
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange took to Twitter to thank the U.S. government for helping his organization make a massive return on Bitcoin. Assange claims that WikiLeaks has made a 50,000% return on Bitcoin after investing in the cryptocurrency in 2010. Assange said the organization was forced to invest in the cryptocurrency because the U.S. government, as well as others, pushed WikiLeaks into Bitcoin.
On Saturday, Assange posted a screenshot of Bitcoin prices from July 18, 2010, to October 14, 2017, that showed the unbelievable value increase in the cryptocurrency. Assange’s tweet is captioned: “My deepest thanks to the U.S. government, Senator McCain, and Senator Lieberman for pushing Visa, MasterCad, Paypal, AmEx, Moneybookers, et al, into erecting an illegal banking blockade against @WikiLeaks starting in 2010. It caused us to invest in Bitcoin—with > 50,000% returns.”
My deepest thanks to the US government, Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman for pushing Visa, MasterCard, Payal, AmEx, Mooneybookers, et al, into erecting an illegal banking blockade against @WikiLeaks starting in 2010. It caused us to invest in Bitcoin — with > 50000% return. pic.twitter.com/9i8D69yxLC
— Defend Assange Campaign (@DefendAssange) October 14, 2017
The reason WikiLeaks was forced to used cryptocurrencies was because companies such as MasterCard, Bank of America and Paypal refused to process transactions and restricted the organization because they said Assange’s organization violated policies. After WikiLeaks was blocked from utilizing traditional banking institutions, they turned to cryptocurrency. For WikiLeaks, digital money makes a lot of sense since they can make anonymous payments to leakers who are providing highly sensitive information that could get them arrested.
WikiLeaks claimed it received $944,000 in donations in December 2010 alone. However, with a lack of financial institutions available, WikiLeaks noted they received $0 in donations by January 2011. If WikiLeaks had rolled all $944,000 into Bitcoin by January 2011, and it did increase 50,000% in returns, that would mean WikiLeaks’ Bitcoin investment would be worth approximately $472 million today.
At the time of publication, Bitcoin had a value if $5,681.94. That being said, with Bitcoin, as with all cryptocurrencies, they are volatile and prices are capable of swinging hundreds of dollars in only a few hours from seemingly insignificant market news.
[Fortune]