The protest movement against the various health measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic, known as the “Freedom Convoy”, has raised over $800,000 in bitcoins (BTC). The funds raised are already being used to provide fuel and water for the truckers. The beginning of a new era in the fight against political decisions
$800,000 in Bitcoins for Canadian truckers
The Canadian “Freedom Convoy” continues to gain momentum and attention, making headlines around the globe.
To show their support, supporters of the movement initially opened a fund via the crowdfunding site GoFundMe, raising over $10 million. But the funds were frozen by the platform last week, before finally being returned to the individual donors, as the movement did not comply with the site’s terms and conditions.
A second donation drive was opened on the GiveSendGo platform to take over, raising $8.6 million at the time of writing.
But a third crowdfunding campaign was launched via the Tallycoin platform with the aim of reaching 21 BTC in donations. This has now been achieved, as 21.24 BTC have been counted, which is equivalent to more than $800,000 at the current price.
The movement, which began as a protest against the mandatory vaccination requirement for truckers wishing to cross the border into the United States, has evolved into an opposition to the health restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Initially launched in Canada, the revolt seems to have spread to the rest of the world. Indeed, a similar convoy is expected in Paris tomorrow, and others are also being organised in Belgium, Australia and New Zealand.
Supporters from the cryptocurrency community
On January 27, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, also the world’s richest man and known in the cryptocurrency community for his impact on the price of Dogecoin (DOGE), stated his support for the Canadian movement via Twitter:
Canadian truckers rule
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022
He adds below, “CB radio stations are independent of media and government control. He also responds to an internet user’s comment “Freedom is being ripped away piece by piece until it eventually disappears.”
Jesse Powell, the CEO of the Kraken exchange platform, also lent his support to the protest movement via a donation of over 100 million Satoshis, or about $43,000 at the current rate:
Donations collected in bitcoin are sent to a multi-signature wallet held by 5 different people including bitcoin holder Greg Foss, author Jeff Booth and Bull Bitcoin CEO Francis Pouliot. The funds are already being used to provide fuel and water for the truckers and others.
Bitcoin as a way out of political control
We won’t comment here on the merits of the movement, but it is interesting to see the possibilities offered by Bitcoin and more broadly by cryptocurrencies to face censorship or at least political decisions.
The best example is WikiLeaks, since the organisation was banned from receiving donations by Visa, Mastercard or Paypal following the release of sensitive documents. In order to continue to exist, it had no choice but to set up cryptocurrency donations through its website.
Given the scale of the trucker movement around the world, it will be interesting to see how far donations made in Bitcoin will go in circumventing the various laws and legal impediments.
Cryptocurrency donations have already been democratising for several years. During 2020, it was possible to send donations in crypto assets to fight the fire that was ravaging Australia.
Last year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) set up a special fund for donations made in cryptocurrencies. Later in the year, the US Republican Party also announced that it would accept donations made in digital assets to fight the Democratic Party.
