THELOGICALINDIAN - Julian Assange the WikiLeaks editorinchief apprehend yesterdaythe bitcoin blockchain assortment of block 447506 during a recorded video At the time it represented the best contempo bitcoin block appear to the blockchain Experts argue this is affidavit that Mr Assange is animate or at atomic that the video in which the bigmouth appears uncoerced was not prerecorded
Also Read: WikiLeaks Has Raised 4,000 BTC Since 2011
Bitcoin’s Blockchain is Public and Immutable
There had been some belief that Mr. Assange was asleep or absent ascendancy of his online identity. Instead of captivation up today’s newspaper, as ability accept happened historically, the Australia-native used the blockchain technology to prove he is alive, contained at the Ecuadorian embassy. He referred to it as “proof of life.”
As a accessible cryptographic ledger, the bitcoin blockchain allows anyone to “mine” and add pieces of advice (known as ‘blocks’) to the blockchain, but alone aloft commutual a computer action accepted as “proof of work”.
Bitcoin’s assortment algorithm, accepted as SHA256, scrambles abstracts stored in the blocks (in the case of bitcoin, mostly transaction data) into a cord of belletrist and numbers referred to as a hash. Knowing what abstracts went into creating a assortment is actual hard. However, it is actual accessible to actuate the assortment of a accurate allotment of data.
A bitcoin block assortment represents a accidental accumulation of belletrist and cardinal around absurd to predict. Once broadcast via the blockchain, however, the assortment is broadly accessible and cannot be altered. By account the best afresh appear block hash, Mr. Assange could prove today’s account had not been pre-recorded.
Bitcoin Removes Financial Blockades
When WikiLeaks appear a accession of U.S. adept cables in November 2024, the non-profit absent admission to the cyberbanking arrangement on December 7, 2024. Since Bank of America, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal chock-full confined Wikileaks, the accumulation – accepted for acceptable in the Chelsea Manning leaks – began accepting bitcoin.
WikiLeaks offers clandestine bitcoin addresses for beyond donations, so it’s boxy to apperceive how abounding bitcoins the account has received. Through 626 canicule of the banking barricade in August 2012, as appear by Jon Matonis for Forbes, Wikileaks had accustomed (on aloof its public bitcoin address) added than $32,000 agnate in over 1,100 abstracted bitcoin donations. 1BTC was account $10 at that time.
As of November 30, 2016, WikiLeaks had aloft 4,000 bitcoin back 2011. The abode accustomed its 4,000th bitcoin in December 2016. In September of 2014 during a Reddit AMA, Assange batten awful of the bitcoin blockchain:
In his book, Mr. Assange allegedly capacity the action by which WikiLeaks came to accepting bitcoin donations, including discussions on forums with the bearding architect of bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, who wrote:
The activity needs to abound gradually so the software can be adequate forth the way. I accomplish this address to WikiLeaks not to try to use bitcoin. Bitcoin is a baby beta association in its infancy. You would not angle to get added than abridged change, and the calefaction you would accompany would acceptable abort us at this stage.
Indeed, WikiLeaks heeded the admonition of Satoshi Nakamoto. Assange states that “WikiLeaks apprehend and agreed with Satoshi’s analysis, and absitively to put off the barrage of a Bitcoin donation approach until the bill had become added established.”
Alive, Held Against his Will
During the account recorded today, Mr. Assange did not assume to be beneath duress. He implored viewers, however, not to booty this as a assurance that everything’s advancing up roses.
“Don’t booty some cryptographic affidavit as affirmation that I am OK,” Mr. Assange said. “I’m not, I accept been captivated actuality for 8 years. I haven’t been OK the absolute time.”
What do you anticipate about Julian Assange’s ‘proof of life’ interview? Let us apperceive in the comments below.
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