Coinbase has reportedly shut off the WikiLeaks Shop’s account, saying that it violated the cryptocurrency exchange’s terms of service. It means the whistleblowing site just lost its existing way of converting cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin into traditional money.
The WikiLeaks Shop is basically the leak site’s merchandise outlet, which sells mugs, posters, shirts, and other kinds of generic stuff. Besides credit cards, it also accepts a variety of cryptocurrencies as payments.
As per the official Twitter account of WikiLeaks Shop, Coinbase has closed the account for its legal requirement to honor “regulatory compliance mechanisms” under the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. After reviewing, Coinbase came to a conclusion that the shop “engaged in prohibited use in violation of our Terms of Service.”
ANNOUNCE: Coinbase has blocked the official @WikiLeaks shop from its platform without notice or explanation. You can continue to donate #Bitcoin to WikiLeaks at https://t.co/lvhoyhlqUa. #Coinbase #DefendWL #Cryptocurrency #Ethereum #BitcoinCash #ReconnectJulian pic.twitter.com/4BSS023OOk
— WikiLeaks Shop (@WikiLeaksShop) April 21, 2018
When The Verge reached Coinbase for comments, a spokesperson refused to do so, saying that it has a policy not to “comment on individual accounts.”
Unsurprisingly, WikiLeaks has started calling for a global blockade of Coinbase, claiming that it is showing a reaction to a “concealed influence.” However, with over 10 million users on the exchange, it is not sure whether it will bring any noticeable result.
