Imagine waking up and finding that you're blocked from using MetaMask! But how is this possible, I thought Ethereum was decentralized?
Users Blocked From MetaMask?
As it turns out there are parts of interacting with the Ethereum network that are vulnerable to censorship due to centralization, and one of these Infura software owned by ConsenSys.
In this case it doesn't look like it was actually MM itself that blocked out some users intentionally and some by accidentally.
It was in fact Infura that made changes in an attempt to be compliant with on going sanction imposed by the United States on certain geographic regions around the world (Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine).
Infura’s software blocked Venezuela MetaMask users while complying with new sanctions. Infura is software that hosts Ethereum nodes and operates blockchain infrastructure on a company’s behalf. source
Infurara is one of the worlds largest Ethereum infrastructure providers, and it was on their end where they accidentally implemented code across their nodes blocking access to those located in Venezuela.
Infura is a major infrastructure provider that operates full nodes used by Ethereum’s ecosystem and is viewed by many as its AWS. It’s also owned by ConsenSys, founded and managed by Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin. source
I'm not sure what is worse, the fact that significant infrastructure on the Ethereum network is centralized or that this centralized organization can accidentally shut you out of your MetaMask wallet?
Ciao for now,
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