- CANTV’s Block on Binance Affects Crypto Users
- Social Media Platform X Also Targeted
- Escalation of the Political Situation
The Venezuelan government has blocked access to the crypto exchange Binance and the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), leading to limitations for thousands of users.
CANTV’s Block on Binance Affects Crypto Users
On August 9th, VE sin Filtro, a local organization monitoring internet censorship, reported that CANTV had implemented a DNS block on Binance. This disruption affected both the website and the mobile app, preventing users from accessing their accounts or conducting transactions. Binance reassured its users that their funds remain secure and that the company is closely monitoring the situation.
Social Media Platform X Also Targeted
The block on Binance is part of a broader campaign that also includes the social media platform X. Reports indicate that President Nicolas Maduro's government has ordered all major ISPs in the country to restrict access to the platform. X has confirmed difficulties in providing access to its platform for users in Venezuela. It is reported that users are circumventing the block by using VPNs. Additionally, the Signal messaging app was also blocked but remains functional with its censorship circumvention setting enabled.
Escalation of the Political Situation
The block followed a public spat between Maduro and Elon Musk, in which Musk called Maduro a 'dictator' and a 'clown', and Maduro accused Musk of inciting 'hatred, fascism, and civil war.' The tensions escalated following Venezuela’s disputed presidential election on July 28th, which sparked widespread protests across the country.
Blocking access to Binance and the social media platform X is part of broader censorship measures, complicating users' access to crypto savings and alternative payment systems. Users are resorting to VPNs to bypass restrictions.
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