Canadian Truckers Turn to Bitcoin After GoFundMe Blocks $9 Million Fundraiser
Canadian truckers protesting vaccine mandates raise over $540,000 in Bitcoin after GoFundMe seizes their $9 million campaign. Despite switching to a crypto-powered platform, the protesters still face potential censorship and a growing local backlash.
Canadian truckers protesting COVID-19 vaccine mandates raise over $540,000 in Bitcoin after GoFundMe cancels their $9 million campaign. The crowdfunding platform blocks the funds and promises automatic refunds, citing violations of its terms of service due to reports of unruly behavior and unlawful activity in Ottawa. In response, the so-called "Freedom Convoy 2022" shifts its fundraising efforts to Tallycoin, a Bitcoin-powered alternative platform.
The protest begins after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mandates vaccinations for all truckers crossing the US-Canada border. Thousands of truckers and their supporters descend on the Canadian capital, promising to stay until the government reverses the requirement. Similar blockades emerge at border crossings between the two countries, causing significant disruptions to international trade and travel.
Despite adopting cryptocurrency to escape traditional financial censorship, the truckers find that their new platform is not entirely censorship-resistant. Ottawa's mayor declares a state of emergency as police open criminal investigations into threats, damaged businesses, and desecrated monuments. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between decentralized digital money and the persistent challenges of platform-level control.