The Court Ruling
The Ontario provincial government recently secured an order from the Superior Court of Justice, effectively putting a freeze on millions of dollars meant for the controversial Freedom Convoy protesters. This freezing spree marks the second time these truckers have faced financial obstacles, the first being a significant $10 million GoFundMe campaign that was shut down last week. In true Canadian spirit, refunds were promptly issued back to the generous donors after they raised their voices in protest.
Back to the Basics: Fundraising Attempts
As of the latest reports, the fundraising pages on the GiveSendGo platform have pulled in some impressive sums: the “Freedom Convoy 2022” raised a whopping $8.4 million, with “Adopt-a-Trucker” not far behind, snagging $686,000. You’ve got to hand it to those truckers; they really know how to keep the cash flowing, at least until the government shows up to hit pause.
Rise of the Cryptocurrency
In response to this restriction, there’s a silver lining if you’re a fan of Bitcoin. Some organizers and supporters, wit intact, are rallying behind the cry of “Bitcoin fixes this!” Because who needs traditional funding methods, anyway? They’ve even formed a group aptly named HonkHonk Hodl, collecting funds in Bitcoin—a total of 21 BTC (around $902,000). Clearly, the motto is that when in doubt, just go digital.
A Censorship-Resistant Solution?
Bitcoin is rapidly emerging as an alternative for those who feel left out in the cold by traditional methods. OpenNode, a Bitcoin payment processor, asserts that the beauty of Bitcoin lies in its resistance to censorship. “Without any central authority to dictate who can and can’t use Bitcoin, it has proven to be the currency of choice for many individuals,” they noted, talking up the innovative benefits of cryptocurrency. After all, who knew that financial resistance could also mean embracing a new tech revolution?
The Tug-of-War Continues
However, not everyone is convinced. Following the court ruling, GiveSendGo took to Twitter to proclaim their independence from Canadian jurisdiction, stating that no Canadian government could control their funds management. Irony alert: despite being based in the U.S., the ruling means that Canadians can’t access the funds. Toronto Sun writer Brian Lilley points out that any attempts to withdraw the funds would bungle the terms of the court order. It’s a legal game of chess, and it seems the government just moved that knight one square too far.
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