WIKILEAKS AND MONERO
WikiLeaks now accepts contributions in Monero, a cryptoactive that guarantees the privacy of its users. In addition, several criptocurrency could be added to the WikiLeaks organization's fundraising system during the following weeks.
Based on a survey conducted recently through the organization's Twitter account, it has been announced that Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR) will be included in its range of collection methods. The most recent announcement was made on August 13 through WikiLeaks Twitter account:
ANNOUNCE: @WikiLeaks now takes contributions in the privacy cryptocurrency #Monero #XMR $XMR https://t.co/JRNWi8nNE6 pic.twitter.com/GCQmuvoLbS
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) 14 de agosto de 2017
Wikileaks publishes on its website anonymous reports and filtered documents that have revealed unethical procedures by governments of numerous countries and companies around the world. In this sense, the database of the organization has grown to surpass more than 1.2 million documents.
The use of cryptonones as a collection method emerged as an alternative to traditional payment systems such as Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, who had already denied WikiLeaks the use of their respective platforms.
In this context, the organization has integrated Bitcoin into its collection system since 2011 and Litecoin since 2013. Bitcoin estimates that WikiLeaks has raised at least 4,000 BTCs in an average of 26,000 transactions. With Monero and ZCash, the WikiLeaks organization can guarantee its contributors that they can keep a veil over their identities.
WikiLeaks has maintained a closed policy regarding disclosure of the statements of account of the organization, for which they have received numerous criticisms. But he also maintains his political position on how to manage his own finances with his most recent decisions.
Recall that Monero is able to maintain the anonymity of transactions thanks to a technology called ring signature, where a set of signatures are used to cover up the transaction that can only be seen by those involved.
It should be mentioned that last week Monero was linked to the transactions carried out by hackers who propagated the Wannacry ramsomware. The BTC booty that was exchanged to Monero is being investigated by FBI agents and the exchange houses' teams ShapeShift and Changelly. However, due to the security features of such exchange houses, which do not require a personal email record, and Monero's features, the task of finding criminals is complicated.
Monero and ZCash could allow WikiLeaks to keep the identities of certain contributors in total secrecy. The benefits in terms of tracking and protecting the individual identities offered by these cryptones will allow WikiLeaks to continue to release sensitive information to the public.