{"id":222846,"date":"2022-03-04T12:30:50","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T12:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/?p=222846"},"modified":"2026-10-24T12:37:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T11:37:11","slug":"ethereum-blasted-as-a-trojan-horse-for-tyranny-following-metamask-scandal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/ethereum-blasted-as-a-trojan-horse-for-tyranny-following-metamask-scandal\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethereum blasted as “trojan horse for tyranny” following MetaMask scandal"},"content":{"rendered":"

MetaMask<\/a> users in Iran and Venezuela reported problems with completing transactions yesterday. It later emerged that affected users were deliberately blocked for “legal compliance” reasons.<\/p>\n

This is possible because MetaMask uses an API or gateway service through Infura<\/a>. Like MetaMask, Infura is also owned by Ethereum developers ConsensSys, following its acquisition in October 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I<\/span><\/span>nfura is a Web3 backend and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider that offers a range of services and tools for blockchain developers<\/b>. This includes the Infura API (Application Programming Interface) suite.<\/span><\/span>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As expected, the community response wasn't pretty, with deceit over decentralization being a common theme. And considering what's happening in Russia-Ukraine, some realize that you or I could be next.<\/p>\n

The brutal truth about MetaMask censorship<\/h2>\n

The Block's VP of Research, Larry Cermak<\/a>, said that if MetaMask is prepared to block Venezuelan IP addresses, it won't be long before they block individual IP addresses. As a result, Cermak suggested users move to alternative wallet providers.<\/p>\n

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“If <\/span>Metamask<\/span>\/Infura is open and willing to block countries like Venezuela by IP addresses, it's only a matter of time until they are forced by regulators to censor individual people's IP addresses. We need alternatives immediately, hoping that Alchemy and others don't do this.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But the latest data on MetaMask users shows there are 21 million monthly active users, making it the most popular<\/a> wallet on the market. As such, making the jump to a viable alternative could prove tricky.<\/p>\n

The Magic Internet Money podcast host, Brad Mills<\/a>, called Ethereum “a trojan horse for tyranny.” Mills pointed out that big corporations, including JPMorgan, are behind ConsenSys. He added that only Bitcoin is “government-resistant.”<\/p>\n

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Ethereum is a trojan horse for tyranny. <\/p>\n

Consensys owns Infura & Metamask. JP Morgan, UBS, Mastercard own Consensys.<\/p>\n

99% of EVM transactions go through Consensys.<\/p>\n

DeFi is captured by VCs & banks. <\/p>\n

Only #bitcoin<\/a> is government-resistant. Ethereum is not even insider-resistant. pic.twitter.com\/zohPDtyD0H<\/a><\/p>\n

— Brad Mills \ud83d\udd11\u26a1\ufe0f (@bradmillscan) March 3, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n