Julian Assange’s battle against extradition to the United States and the campaign for his freedom took center stage at the recent Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland, where his family discussed the challenges, costs, and support they’ve received over the years. The campaign, stretching across 14 years, incurred expenses exceeding $30 million, a significant portion funded by cryptocurrency supporters and organizations, according to Cointelegraph.

Asnge was arrested in April 2019 at the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he had been staying since 2012. He went back to Australia in 2024 after his realease

During the panel, Assange’s wife Stella Assange, his father John Shipton, and his half-brother Gabriel Shipton highlighted the role of Bitcoin and decentralized support. Gabriel Shipton disclosed that the campaign received “upwards of $30 million” in donations, covering campaign and legal fees, with a significant portion from wealthy Bitcoin investors and supporters worldwide. He emphasized the impact of AssangeDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization, which pooled contributions from 10,000 members committed to supporting Assange’s cause.

Financial backing from AssangeDAO has been critical, with member Silke Noa previously revealing $37 million allocated to legal and awareness efforts. Notably, Assange received major backing from Bitcoiners in June 2024, after his release from custody. Restricted from using commercial airlines, Assange’s private flight from the UK to Australia, priced at $520,000, was covered by an anonymous Bitcoin donor contributing over eight BTC.

Since 2010, crypto assets have been instrumental for WikiLeaks, particularly after the U.S. government sought to isolate the organization financially. Under then-President Barack Obama, financial service providers were directed to halt transactions supporting WikiLeaks, pushing the platform toward decentralized cryptocurrency support as a lifeline for sustaining its operations.