<p>Having been in the Army and understanding the stance that the US government has taken, I'm sure t will be up to the commanders.  Many of whom will not look kindly on the gesture.  The official stance will be known when they take action.</p>

<p>As you know the transactions are public and there are a number of efforts to build visualization and data mining tool sets.  This article address the anonymity of transactions and describes nicely why there is no real anonymity if someone wants to dig.</p>

<p><a href="http://anonymity-in-bitcoin.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitcoin-is-not-anonymous.html" rel="nofollow">http://anonymity-in-bitcoin.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitcoin-is-not-anonymous.html</a></p>

<p>You'll also notice two other important things about the article.  One is that it focuses on WikiLeaks and that they are using Visualization tool sets.  this tells me someone is already looking to make connections.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-25T19:53:14.670Z
2012-11-25T19:53:14.670Z
osok
<p>The WikiLeaks website <a href="http://shop.wikileaks.org/donate#dbitcoin">provides a bitcoin donation address</a> 1HB5XMLmzFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD4miY36v</p>

<p>According to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/us-calls-assange-enemy-of-state-20120927-26m7s.html">this article from the Sydney Morning Herald</a>, Julian Assange of WikiLeaks has been declared an "enemy of the state" by the US. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Declassified US Air Force counter-intelligence documents, released under US freedom-of-information laws, reveal that military personnel who contact WikiLeaks or WikiLeaks supporters may be at risk of being charged with "communicating with the enemy", a military crime that carries a maximum sentence of death.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Has there been any clarification or further analysis by US govt (or anyone) as to what the consequences would be of sending bitcoins to WikiLeaks?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T05:02:42.360Z
They would probably be the same as sending other money to them, just a bit harder to trace. I don't think there is much of a Bitcoin-specific problem here.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T07:46:31.170Z
It's an interesting point, but would it be better addressed on Reddit or the forums rather than here?
Gary
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T08:36:23.163Z
@ThePiachu, if you arrange a trade with someone and they provide that address for payment, you wouldn't want police turning up at your doorstep! I believe that makes it Bitcoin specific.
Highly Irregular
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T08:38:58.027Z
@HighlyIrregular Hmm, good point. I think I'll make some new question about that issue.
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T08:47:53.257Z
http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/5152/323
ThePiachu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-24T09:46:24.787Z
Bitcoin's anonymity is usually over-estimated by its users. [Researchers were able to associate certain donations to Wikileaks with certain bitcointalk users](http://anonymity-in-bitcoin.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitcoin-is-not-anonymous.html) even though the said users probably thought it was anonymous.
mazi
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-25T12:42:57.093Z
I would gladly donate to any enemy of the state.
flaab
<legal><usa><wikileaks>
What are the consequences of donating bitcoins to WikiLeaks?
Highly Irregular
# What are the consequences of donating bitcoins to WikiLeaks?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-10-24)

The WikiLeaks website [provides a bitcoin donation address](http://shop.wikileaks.org/donate#dbitcoin) 1HB5XMLmzFVj8ALj6mfBsbifRoD4miY36v

According to [this article from the Sydney Morning Herald](http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/us-calls-assange-enemy-of-state-20120927-26m7s.html), Julian Assange of WikiLeaks has been declared an "enemy of the state" by the US.

> Declassified US Air Force counter-intelligence documents, released under US freedom-of-information laws, reveal that military personnel who contact WikiLeaks or WikiLeaks supporters may be at risk of being charged with "communicating with the enemy", a military crime that carries a maximum sentence of death.

Has there been any clarification or further analysis by US govt (or anyone) as to what the consequences would be of sending bitcoins to WikiLeaks?

**Tags:** legal, usa, wikileaks

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: They would probably be the same as sending other money to them, just a bit harder to trace. I don't think there is much of a Bitcoin-specific problem here.  
> **username_2**: It's an interesting point, but would it be better addressed on Reddit or the forums rather than here?  
> **username_0**: @username_1, if you arrange a trade with someone and they provide that address for payment, you wouldn't want police turning up at your doorstep! I believe that makes it Bitcoin specific.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Hmm, good point. I think I'll make some new question about that issue.  
> **username_1**: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/5152/323  
> **username_3**: Bitcoin's anonymity is usually over-estimated by its users. [Researchers were able to associate certain donations to Wikileaks with certain bitcointalk users](http://anonymity-in-bitcoin.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitcoin-is-not-anonymous.html) even though the said users probably thought it was anonymous.  
> **username_4**: I would gladly donate to any enemy of the state.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-11-25. Score: 1

Having been in the Army and understanding the stance that the US government has taken, I'm sure t will be up to the commanders. Many of whom will not look kindly on the gesture. The official stance will be known when they take action.

As you know the transactions are public and there are a number of efforts to build visualization and data mining tool sets. This article address the anonymity of transactions and describes nicely why there is no real anonymity if someone wants to dig.

<http://anonymity-in-bitcoin.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitcoin-is-not-anonymous.html>

You'll also notice two other important things about the article. One is that it focuses on WikiLeaks and that they are using Visualization tool sets. this tells me someone is already looking to make connections.


---

