Nobel Peace Prize 2024: This Bitcoin Evangelist Deserved It Too!

The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was awarded this Friday, October 11, to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo “for its efforts in favor of a world without nuclear weapons.” However, another candidate had sparked interest: Julian Assange, the controversial founder of WikiLeaks and fervent defender of Bitcoin.

A Bitcoin Evangelist Seeking Recognition

Since its creation in 2006, WikiLeaks has established itself as a major player in government transparency, publishing thousands of confidential documents. This approach has earned Assange numerous legal troubles, but also a status as an icon for digital freedom defenders.

It is in this context that Assange turned to Bitcoin as early as 2011. Faced with the freezing of his assets by traditional financial institutions, he saw in Satoshi’s invention a way to bypass economic censorship. WikiLeaks thus began accepting donations in Bitcoin, becoming one of the first major organizations to adopt this technology.

Over the years, Assange has become a true evangelist of Bitcoin. He has praised its potential for social and economic transformation, even calling it “the most exciting development of the Internet.” This stance has strengthened his ties with the crypto community, which sees him as a significant ally in the struggle for financial decentralization.

Bitcoin as a Vector of Peace?

The idea that a decentralized currency could contribute to world peace may seem counterintuitive. Yet, Assange’s supporters argue that Bitcoin, by limiting the power of states over financial flows, reduces the risks of economic conflicts. The inherent transparency of the blockchain could also deter corruption and the covert financing of wars.

Although the Nobel committee ultimately chose to reward Nihon Hidankyo for its fight against nuclear weapons, Assange’s candidacy highlighted Bitcoin’s potential as a tool for social transformation. His use of cryptocurrency to defend freedom of information will remain an important chapter in the history of journalism and technology.

Although Julian Assange did not win the Nobel Peace Prize this year, his fight and commitment to Bitcoin continue to inspire many activists and defenders of digital freedoms around the world. His journey reminds us that technological innovation can be a powerful vector of social and political change.