An anonymous Bitcoin donor has paid over $500,000 in BTC to cover WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s expenses for his flight home to Australia. Assange is now a free man after pleading guilty in a US court under a deal ending his 14-year legal battle.

JUST IN: #Bitcoin pioneer and freedom fighter Julian Assange has landed in Australia. He is officially a free man!

A win for free speech and freedom 👏 pic.twitter.com/lDyPabqa8u

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 26, 2024

Assange was released from prison in the UK on June 24th and flew to the US territory of Saipan to enter his plea. He had been fighting extradition to the US on espionage charges related to WikiLeaks publication of classified documents.

On June 26th, Assange arrived back in his native Australia and embraced family members in Canberra. He has been a pioneer for Bitcoin and WikiLeaks since its inception, even receiving donations in BTC in 2010 when few knew about it.

Just a day earlier, to cover the $520,000 cost of his private charter flight arranged by the Australian government, Assange’s wife issued an urgent appeal for donations. She also provided a Bitcoin address for contributions.

Remarkably, a single Bitcoin donor sent over 8 BTC worth nearly $500,000 to the address to cover the entire debt. This allowed Assange to return home without financial burden.

The anonymous donor’s massive contribution highlights the Bitcoin community’s enduring support for Assange and his work revealing government secrets. Bitcoiners have long advocated for his release.

While the whale’s identity remains unknown, the donation underscores Bitcoin’s role in enabling uncensored free speech and financial freedom.

The weeks ahead will focus on helping Assange recuperate after prolonged confinement. However, given his longstanding history with the technology, his engagement with Bitcoin will likely continue. Assange’s saga symbolized the battle between individual liberties and unchecked government power.

VanEck’s spot Bitcoin ETF (VBTC) has officially launched on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Australia’s largest stock market. The ETF was approved earlier this week and is now available for trading, providing Australian investors with a simplified and secure way to gain exposure to Bitcoin.

NEW: VanEck's spot #Bitcoin ETF officially went live on Australia's largest stock exchange 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/m0gehtEd70

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 20, 2024

“ASX welcomes VBTC to the exchange!” announced ASX. “Congratulations to the VanEck Australia team for launching the first crypto ETF on ASX.” 

The launch of VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF on ASX offers a more accessible option for investors who prefer traditional stock exchanges over crypto exchanges. This ETF, which carries a management fee of 0.59%, allows investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly holding the BTC, thereby reducing the complexities and risks associated with direct ownership.

“While it has been possible to trade Bitcoin via crypto exchanges, trading units with exposure to Bitcoin via an ETF on an exchange like ASX means you’re able to buy and sell those units through a traditional brokerage account, simplifying the process and opening the opportunity to more Australians,” said Andrew Campion, ASX’s general manager of investment products and strategy.

Earlier this month, the Monochrome Asset Management’s Bitcoin ETF began trading on the Cboe Australia exchange, which has so far purchased over 54 bitcoin worth $5.3 million AUD.

Monochrome Bitcoin ETF (Ticker: $IBTC) AUM as of 19/06/24 pic.twitter.com/TjtHmn0jVF

— Monochrome (@MonochromeAsset) June 20, 2024

Australia’s largest stock market, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), approved listing the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) on its platform on June 20. The issuer will be VanEck, and the instrument will be dubbed the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (VBTC).

BREAKING: 🇦🇺 Australia’s largest stock exchange, ASX has approved its first spot #Bitcoin ETF. pic.twitter.com/M4kApaqfhW

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 17, 2024

The decision of the leading Australian stock exchange came after the success of Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, where 11 such instruments have been listed since January. Hong Kong also launched Bitcoin ETFs following the US.

Arian Neiron, CEO and Managing Director at VanEck Asia Pacific, said, “The demand for access to Bitcoin via a listed vehicle traded on ASX has been increasing, and many of our clients have told us that their clients are already positioned to have an allocation ready to invest.”

Australia already had spot Bitcoin ETFs, and the first to debut in Australia was the Global X 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF (EBTC), which launched in April 2022. Most recently, the Monochrome Bitcoin ETF (IBTC) was approved and began trading on June 4 on Australia’s second-largest stock exchange, the Cboe Australia exchange.

The arrival of a Bitcoin ETF on Australia’s main exchange is a significant milestone. As the country’s largest stock exchange, the ASX brings greater visibility, credibility, and access to Bitcoin exposure for both institutional and retail investors.

These approvals indicate a growing acceptance and interest in Bitcoin investment products within the Australian market and worldwide, and most countries will likely follow suit.