Cryptocurrency–The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), an organization started in 2012 to protect the interest of free speech and publication throughout the world, began accepting donations in cryptocurrency on June 18. While the initial offering included only five currencies–Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, BCash and ZCash–FPF reports receiving nearly 550K (1000 ETH) from decentralized application platform Mainframe.
A HUGE thank you to @Mainframe_HQ, who is helping kick off our cryptocurrency donation page with a donation of 1000 ETH! We are thrilled @Mainframe_HQ shares our goal of protecting journalists and whistleblowers in the digital age. https://t.co/P8q6aEZJ14
— Freedom of the Press (@FreedomofPress) June 18, 2018
FPF has been a project primarily focused on protecting the integrity and safety of journalists across the globe, including being critical of government attempts to suppress, manipulate and threaten the press. In particular, the program seeks to harbor and promote whistleblowers, which portions of cryptocurrency donations will go directly into supporting,
Your donations support our projects to advance press freedom, including SecureDrop, the open source whistleblower submission platform used by more than 60 news organizations worldwide.
Mainframe, a blockchain-based company building a network to resist censorship and promote decentralized applications, has a substantial amount of overlap with the goals of FPF, including that of the general cryptocurrency user base. In its press release following the high profile donation, Mainframe highlights the importance of supporting the risky efforts of whistleblowers, including the infamous Edward Snowden,
Working closely with journalists, activists, and whistleblowers, including Edward Snowden, they’re on the frontlines in this battle. This donation stems from the mutual goal to fight not only for a free press, but for a free people in a digital age: free from the chains of censorship, free from the tyranny of unchecked surveillance, and free to use our data how we want.
While the principles of decentralization that are paramount to cryptocurrency have naturally found a home with advocates of free speech, particularly in the digital realm, the potential for currencies that transcend government influence is only now being tapped into. WikiLeaks Julian Assange caught national headlines following his assertion that the whistleblower organization had amassed 50,000% returns on its cryptocurrency donations–allowing for a substantial amount of funds to be devoted to continuing their free press efforts.
FPF is likewise tapping into the generosity that has been demonstrated by the cryptocurrency community by advocating a cause that is both transparent and valuable to citizens around the world. Freedom of information as well as better media practices is a useful discourse to both the outlet of journalism and enthusiasts of decentralized currencies. Both groups, FPF and the greater cryptocurrency community, have a vested interest in driving the message of decentralization, and bringing awareness to the inefficiency of government bureaucracies and manipulative authorities.
Speaking on behalf of their decision to support the efforts of FPF, Mainframe echoed the sentiment that decentralized media outlets could find a mutual partnership in fintech-based cryptocurrencies
Public advocacy becomes that much more powerful when coupled with innovation and better choices. Both organizations plan to work towards the mutually beneficial goal of tipping the scales in favor of the fight for freedom of information.
While the crypto markets struggle to see the type of positive price movement that characterized most of 2017, ongoing efforts of adoption and greater visibility for the technology is leading to wider acceptance across a number of industries.
