The decision by WikiLeaks on June 14, 2011, to officially start accepting Bitcoin is widely recognized as a turning point in the evolution of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. At the time, the organization was facing a severe financial blockade after the release of the Cablegate documents and turned to the crypto world for support by sharing a Bitcoin address for donations.
Shift to Bitcoin after financial blockade
Traditional payment networks such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank of America, and Western Union cut ties with WikiLeaks, crippling its ability to receive funds. According to available data, this move wiped out nearly 95% of WikiLeaks’ operating income in a short period.
In response to this dramatic loss of revenue, WikiLeaks began accepting donations in Bitcoin. This marked the moment when Bitcoin transitioned from being a niche digital asset discussed within technical communities to gaining global visibility as a means of payment that could function independently of traditional financial channels.
Many regarded WikiLeaks’ adoption of Bitcoin as one of the first major real-world tests of how a decentralized network would operate under external pressure.
Satoshi Nakamoto’s notable warning
This pivotal period also coincided with concern from Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Writing on the BitcoinTalk forum, Satoshi cautioned that WikiLeaks was “kicking the hornet’s nest.” These words reflected anxiety that the sudden surge of attention could potentially harm the still-young Bitcoin network.
Glossary: Cablegate refers to the major 2010 leak of U.S. diplomatic cables. The publication of these documents exposed WikiLeaks to intense global political and financial pressure.
Just a few weeks after issuing this warning, Satoshi disappeared from public view. As a result, the WikiLeaks episode not only shifted the perception of Bitcoin’s practical uses but also marks the closing chapter in Satoshi’s public involvement—a historic milestone for the cryptocurrency.
Subsequent acceptance by other platforms
Following WikiLeaks’ move, other organizations and platforms began to explore accepting Bitcoin for donations and payments. In November 2012, the content management system WordPress launched support for Bitcoin payments.
By February 2013, the nonprofit Internet Archive announced its readiness to accept donations in Bitcoin. Later, the Wikimedia Foundation, which manages Wikipedia, also integrated Bitcoin as a donation method.
These developments highlight that in Bitcoin’s early years, the cryptocurrency’s relevance was not limited to its price activity; it also drew major discussion as a censorship-resistant and internationally accessible vehicle for transferring value.
