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<p class="is-style-lead">Bitcache and Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom, is determined to resist extradition to the U.S., claiming political persecution and vowing to stay in New Zealand.</p> 
<p>German-Finnish internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, known for his controversial political views, now faces a new challenge as New Zealand’s justice minister, Paul Goldsmith, has signed an order for his extradition to the United States.</p> 
<p>The move has reignited a legal battle that has spanned more than 10 years, with Dotcom and his legal team vowing to fight the decision tooth and nail, per a <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/justice-minister-signs-kim-dotcoms-extradition-order/ZIO7RHMUS5B3NCKUEW4QH5C4V4/" target="_blank" rel="">report</a> from The New Zealand Herald. Dotcom has been living in <a href="https://crypto.news/tag/new-zealand/" data-type="link" data-id="https://crypto.news/tag/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a> since 2010, and has faced the threat of extradition since 2012 following a dramatic global sting operation that led to his arrest.</p> 
<p>The U.S. Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-leaders-megaupload-widespread-online-copyright-infringement" target="_blank" rel="">charged</a> Dotcom with a slew of serious offenses, including criminal copyright infringement, money laundering, racketeering, and wire fraud, all linked to his role in Megaupload’s operations. U.S. authorities accused the platform of enabling widespread piracy, and allegedly profiting from the illegal distribution of copyrighted content.</p> 
<p>In an Aug. 15 <a href="https://x.com/KimDotcom/status/1824000525500584077" target="_blank" rel="">defiant post</a> on X, the crypto entrepreneur who once <a href="https://crypto.news/kim-dotcom-to-bring-bitcoin-to-the-masses-via-bitcache/" data-type="link" data-id="https://crypto.news/kim-dotcom-to-bring-bitcoin-to-the-masses-via-bitcache/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">promised</a> to bring Bitcoin (<a href="https://crypto.news/price/bitcoin/" data-type="link" data-id="https://crypto.news/price/bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BTC</a>) to the masses via Bitcache and Megaupload, declared, “I love New Zealand. I’m not leaving,” signaling a clear intention to remain in the country despite the looming threat of extradition.</p> 
<p> You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/illicit-crypto-activity-drops-20-but-stolen-funds-surge-chainalysis-says/"> Illicit crypto activity drops 20%, but stolen funds surge, Chainalysis says </a> </p> 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="kim-dotcom-alleges-legal-irregularities-and-political-persecution">Kim Dotcom alleges legal irregularities and political persecution</h2> 
<p>Dotcom’s legal team — led by Ira Rothken — confirmed plans to seek a judicial review of the extradition order in a <a href="https://twitter.com/rothken/status/1824126332969816274" target="_blank" rel="">separate X post</a>, stating that the fight for justice is far from over. Rothken also highlighted numerous legal irregularities that have plagued Dotcom’s case, including an illegal government raid on his family home, unlawful surveillance, and the withholding and destruction of crucial evidence.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our legal team is working on judicial review to the High Court for <a href="https://twitter.com/KimDotcom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="">@KimDotcom</a> in NZ.<br><br>After 12+ years of injustice:<br>-Illegal Gov raid on family home<br>-Illegal spying (PM apologized)<br>-Withholding of evidence <br>-Destruction of evidence<br>-US blocked legal funding <br>-US judge recused…</p>— Ira Rothken (@rothken) <a href="https://twitter.com/rothken/status/1824126332969816274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="">August 15, 2024</a>
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<p>The long-time U.S. critic maintains that his legal troubles stem from his support for WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, who recently pled guilty to one charge of espionage and <a href="https://crypto.news/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-released-from-prison-how-much-crypto-does-he-own/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">returned home</a> to Australia after years of fighting U.S. extradition.</p> 
<p>In another series of posts on X, Dotcom implied that his donations to WikiLeaks, including a $100,000 contribution made shortly after his release on bail, may have prompted the U.S. government’s pursuit of him.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">It all started because I became a large donor to <a href="https://twitter.com/wikileaks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="">@Wikileaks</a> after Julian revealed US war crimes with the collateral murder video. And the moment I got out on bail I created Mega and sent the first $100k I made to Wikileaks. I would do it all over again. Fuck the criminal US Govt. <a href="https://t.co/QcJvq7wM61" target="_blank" rel="">https://t.co/QcJvq7wM61</a></p>— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/1824204817784508672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="">August 15, 2024</a>
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<p>In addition, Dotcom accused the DoJ, under President Joe Biden’s administration, of targeting him for political reasons, drawing a parallel between his situation and former President <a href="https://crypto.news/tag/donald-trump/" target="_blank" data-type="link" data-id="https://crypto.news/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donald Trump</a>‘s legal battles.</p> 
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   <p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 'cache' in Bitcache solves the problem. It eliminates all blockchain limitations. Wait for it 🙂</p>— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/KimDotcom/status/761382152759943168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="">August 5, 2016</a>
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<p>Founded in 2016, Bitcache was meant to increase the utility of Bitcoin by introducing cost-effective microtransactions where file transfers on Megaupload would be linked to Bitcoin transactions thereby making it very difficult to identify users of the file sharing platform. However, in 2023, a New Zealand court put Bitcache into <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/liquidator-updates-on-bitcache-the-failed-crypto-firm-set-up-by-kim-dotcom/WSJU3FSMANHT5DFTKOBVJVH2XI/" data-type="link" data-id="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/liquidator-updates-on-bitcache-the-failed-crypto-firm-set-up-by-kim-dotcom/WSJU3FSMANHT5DFTKOBVJVH2XI/" target="_blank" rel="">liquidation</a>, after it was claimed the company owed more than $13 million to assorted creditors.</p> 
<p> Read more: <a href="https://crypto.news/bitcoin-advocate-rebuts-imf-report-on-crypto-carbon-emissions/"> Bitcoin advocate rebuts IMF Report on crypto carbon emissions </a> </p>

Bitcache founder Kim Dotcom vows to fight extradition to US

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