In 2011, WikiLeaks, a whistleblower organization facing financial blockades, turned to Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency platform that offered an alternative for fundraising. This pivotal move demonstrated the early potential of Bitcoin as a tool for circumventing traditional financial institutions, highlighting the growing intersection of blockchain technology and decentralized finance. This event sparked increased attention within the cryptocurrency sphere as Google also explored the use of Bitcoin at the time, further demonstrating the tech industry’s engagement with this nascent financial system. 2011 saw significant growth in Bitcoin adoption, driven by WikiLeaks’ unique circumstances. The impact was substantial for WikiLeaks, allowing it to continue its operations despite the financial blockades. This marked a turning point in how we think about the future of finance and cryptocurrency.