A group of crypto investors has come together to raise money to help free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Calling themselves a “collective of cypherpunks fighting for the liberation” of Assange, they created the AssangeDAO—a decentralized autonomous organization that aims to raise Ethereum in return for the JUSTICE governance token that allows them to bid on a one-of-a-kind NFT by digital artist Pak who has collaborated with Assange. Proceeds from the NFT sale will go towards Assange’s defense fund, covering legal fees and a campaign that is meant to raise awareness about the WikiLeaks founder and his extradition case. He is currently facing a 175-year prison sentence if he can be extradited back to the United States. Currently, the DAO has raised 15,388 Ethereum with a current market price of just over $47 million. Raising this money in under a week makes AssangeDAO the largest Juice Box raise in history. Similarly, FreeRossDAO raised $12 million to free Silk Road founder Ross Ubricht, with Vitalik Buterin donating 10 Ethereum himself. Finally, Edward Snowden, famed NSA whistleblower, called the fundraising effort a “protest vote against the White House’s abuse of the Espionage Act.”
