AssangeDAO
AssangeDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) formed in December 2021[1] to purchase a non-fungible token (NFT) by digital creator Pak, who donated the proceeds to help free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.[2] In 2019, the United States Department of Justice charged Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and violating the Espionage Act of 1917.[3][4] The case remains pending as Assange, imprisoned in London, fights extradition to the U.S.[5] The fund is administered by German nonprofit Wau Holland Foundation,[6] which has been accepting donations on WikiLeaks' behalf since October 2009.[7]
The DAO's initial consensus unit consisted of Assange's lawyer Jen Robinson, his then fiancée (now wife) Stella Moris, and his half brother Gabriel Shipton. In late 2021, Shipton approached Pak and explained Julian's plight.[8] Pak agreed to collaborate with Assange in creating an NFT artwork, which became Clock, a digital clock tracking the number of days Assange has been incarcerated.[9]
In February 2022, Pak auctioned the NFT online. For its winning bid, AssangeDAO raised nearly $56 million worth of the cryptocurrency Ether (ETH) from over 10,000 contributors through fundraising platform Juicebox. This surpassed Juicebox's previous record from ConstitutionDAO, which in 2021 raised almost $49 million in an unsuccessful bid to buy an original copy of the Constitution of the United States.[9] "The AssangeDAO represents a Rubicon that's been crossed," team member Amir Taaki told Reuters. "The cypherpunks have rallied to Assange."[2] Notable contributors included Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.[9] Investors received governance tokens—called $JUSTICE—in amounts proportional to their contributions. After issuance, however, the token lost market value.[1]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lee, Isabelle (11 February 2022). "The DAO that wants to free Julian Assange just won the bid for a $53 million NFT that will be used to fund the WikiLeaks founder's legal defense". Business Insider. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Howcroft, Elizabeth (9 February 2022). "Digital art auction raises more than $52 mln for WikiLeaks' Assange". Reuters. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ↑ Becket, Stefan (23 May 2019). "Julian Assange indictment: Julian Assange hit with 18 federal charges today, related to WikiLeaks' release of Chelsea Manning docs". CBS News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ↑ "Julian Assange: US hits WikiLeaks founder with 18 new charges, receiving and publishing classified information". news.com.au. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ↑ "Julian Assange denied permission to appeal against extradition". BBC News. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ↑ Volpicelli, Gian M. (9 February 2022). "Assange's NFT Clock Sale Rides a Wave of DAO Crowdfunding". Wired. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ↑ Zetter, Kim (26 April 2011). "WikiLeaks Donations Topped $1.9 Million in 2010". Wired. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ↑ Chow, Vivienne (7 February 2022). "Crypto Investor and NFT Creator Pak on Why They Don't Identify as an Artist, and Their Recent Collaboration With Julian Assange". artnet News. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lau, Yvonne (9 February 2022). "Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange raise $56 million to buy an NFT for his U.S. extradition battle". Fortune. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
External links[edit]
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