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AKA their PR budget

If they also prove they donated to charity via Bitcoin I would assume some legal rights for the victims to claim this money back off the charities. (And it looks like they've given $20k USD to date which is probably a paltry amount for what they've been extracting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54591761)

More like buying indulgences

Chill.

Why would they need positive PR? Exactly how does that help them?

They are attacking large profitable corporations and sharing some money with charities. They're helping solve inequality.

Exactly, PR to try to portray them as the Robin Hoods of the digital age which it sounds you've bought right on into.

Sounds like you summed up exactly why they need good PR. If they spin it well they can be Robin Hood, if they spin it poorly they're common criminals.

At first I thought you were kidding, but I looked it up and it is true:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54591761

No legitimate charity would keep funds donated by criminals in order to justify their means.

No legitimate Open Source Initiative would keep funds donated by proprietary software developer Microsoft in order to justify their means.

I bet charities take money from disreputable sources all the time.