WikiLeaks Calls For Coinbase Blockade After Account Ban By The Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has reportedly suspended the crypto account of WikiLeak’s merchandise arm, WikiLeaks Shop without any explanation. Now, WikiLeaks is calling for a global blockade of Coinbase.

WikiLeaks shop account suspension by Coinbase, call for a boycott

On Friday, WikiLeaks, an international non-profit organization that publishes leaked, classified and secret information provided by unknown sources took to Twitter to report Coinbase, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges has banned their merchandise store, WikiLeaks Shop.

Coinbase has reportedly blocked the WikiLeaks Shop’s crypto wallet account without any prior information or explanation.

In response to this, the whistleblowing organization is now calling for a global blockade of the Coinbase. WikiLeaks claims that the cryptocurrency payments processor and exchange is working under a concealed influence and is now asking the cryptocurrency community to boycott the exchange.

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

The tweet by WikiLeaks also captures the alleged email from Coinbase that states the organization has violated that crypto company’s terms of service and hence, they can no longer provide them access to their service.

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

Coinbase has yet to respond to the specifics of blocking the WikiLeaks Shop’s crypto account and its violation.

Also, read: Breaking: Cambridge Analytica Was Involved With A Gangster Connected Crypto Firm

Crypto community comes forward in support

WikiLeaks Shop basically sells merchandise like posters, t-shirts, and hoodies etc. to help fund the operations of WikiLeaks. It accepts various cryptocurrencies as payment from Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Neo, Dash to Litecoin, ZCash, Monero, Dogecoin, Dash and Vertcoin via Coinpayments.net.

Several Crypto community members came forward and vowed to abandon the platform. One such member is the bitcoin advocate, Andreas M. Anthopoulos who tweeted that “we have come full circle” and Coinbase has “repeated history” as when in 2010 WikiLeaks was boycotted by most of the major banking systems, bitcoin played an important role for WikiLeaks and that was when many people’s interest ignited in crypto.

Just withdrew the remaining balance, from @coinbase, and contacted support to cancel the account. They were actually a decent service, but I will not support any organization that censors opposing views.

— I’m with Rudy! (@theTrumpSpring) April 21, 2018

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

Last year, Julian Assange thanked US government for forcing the organization to use Bitcoin as it resulted in a 50,000 percent return for WikiLeaks.

A few years ago, in a similar case, MasterCard and PayPal launched a blockade against WikiLeaks. Due to the ban, PayPal had to face a massive backlash from the public and then eventually had to restore the organization’s services.

Do you think Coinbase will retract on WikiLeaks Shop account ban?