Bids on WikiLeaks' Assange fundraising NFT surpass $50 million

FILE PHOTO: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in central London, Britain February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - An online auction of digital art to raise money towards WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's legal defence saw bids reach more than $50 million on Wednesday.

Assange is battling extradition from Britain to the United States where the authorities want him to face trial on 18 criminal charges including breaking a spying law, after WikiLeaks began to publish thousands of secret classified files and diplomatic cables in 2010.