Coinbase blocks WikiLeaks

Coinbase, the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange has blocked official Wikileaks shop for violating terms and conditions and it has asked WikiLeaks to follow the directions given on the website and transfer the remaining balance offsite to an external address. In short, Wikileaks just lost its existing means of converting payments like bitcoin into conventional money.

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organisation that publishes secret information, news leaks, and classified media provided by anonymous sources. Its website, initiated in 2006 in Iceland by the organisation Sunshine Press, claims a database of 10 million documents in 10 years since its launch. Julian Assange is the founder, editor-in-chief, and director. WikiLeaks shop is a platform which offers T-shirts, hoodies, publications, mousepads and much more to help WikiLeaks activities.

According to a letter sent to WikiLeaks that was published in Gateway Pundit, Coinbase can no longer process brokerage orders via their banking relationship. As indicated by WikiLeaks on Twitter, the move was sudden and Coinbase offered no clarification. WikiLeaks has asked its Twitter followers to donate bitcoin on the site, where other advanced monetary forms including Litecoin, Zcash, Monero and Ethereum are recorded with the message that “extra digital money choices will be reported.” Below is the tweet by Wikileaks shop:

ANNOUNCE: Coinbase has blocked the official @WikiLeaks shop from its platform without notice or explanation. You can continue to donate #Bitcoin to WikiLeaks at https://t.co/lvhoyhlqUa. #Coinbase #DefendWL #Cryptocurrency #Ethereum #BitcoinCash #ReconnectJulian pic.twitter.com/4BSS023OOk

— WikiLeaks Shop (@WikiLeaksShop) April 21, 2018

In response to Coinbase’s action, Wikileaks has called for global blockade of Coinbase.

WikiLeaks will call for a global blockade of Coinbase next week as an unfit member of the crypto community. Coinbase, a large Californian Bitcoin processor, responding to a concealed influence, has blocked the entirely harmless @WikiLeaksShop in a decision approved by management. https://t.co/PAldF8b12P

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 21, 2018

Best selling Bitcoin author Andreas Antonopoulos tweeted, “We have come full circle. Many people’s interest in bitcoin started when Wikileaks was out under an extra judicial embargo by Visa, Mc, Paypal and banks. Now Coinbase has repeated history. Oops.”

We have come full circle. Many people's interest in bitcoin started when Wikileaks was out under an extra judicial embargo by VISA, MC, PayPal and banks. Now Coinbase has repeated history. Oops. https://t.co/b8HQkoOwyQ

— Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) April 21, 2018

He further tweeted “It’s purely symbolic, unlike the first embargo. Now they have many options. But the symbolism is a pretty poignant reminder of what centralization and banking regulations mean”

It's purely symbolic, unlike the first embargo. Now they have many options. But the symbolism is a pretty poignant reminder of what centralization and banking regulations mean.

— Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) April 21, 2018

It isn’t the first time wikileaks is going through such things. Few years ago, PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard made it difficult for individuals to donate to WikiLeaks specifically. At that time, Wikileaks changed to Bitcoin, as it sounded good to all parties included.