Venezuela Blocks Binance, Reddit, Signal and X Amidst Political Unrest

In a significant move amidst ongoing political unrest, the Venezuelan government has imposed a blockade on several major online platforms, including cryptocurrency exchange Binance and social media network X (formerly Twitter).

The Venezuelan government has imposed a blockade on several major online platforms, including cryptocurrency exchange Binance and social media network X (formerly Twitter), in a significant move amidst ongoing political unrest.

The disruption, first reported on August 12, 2024, is being carried out by the state-owned internet service provider CANTV, which is enforcing the restrictions as part of a broader crackdown on digital services.

Binance’s DNS Block

On August 9, local anti-censorship organization VE sin Filtro reported that Binance’s website and mobile application had become inaccessible in Venezuela due to a DNS block. This move is likely linked to the government’s increased scrutiny of cryptocurrency trading in the country.

🚨 Bloqueado Binance en CANTV 🚨

Esta noche detectamos un bloqueo DNS al exchange de criptomonedas @Binance, el cual afecta el normal funcionamiento de su web y su aplicación móvil.

El bloqueo fue detectado por primera vez a las 8:15 PM de hoy #9Ago pic.twitter.com/aivmVT2VNi

— VE sin Filtro (@vesinfiltro) August 10, 2024

Binance has confirmed the blockade and assured its Venezuelan users that their funds are safe thanks to the company’s strong security protocols. The exchange is actively engaging with local authorities to resolve the issue, although a timeline for restoring access is unclear.

Reddit, Signal, and X Also Blocked

In addition to Binance, CANTV has also blocked access to other major platforms such as Reddit, Signal, and X.

The blockage of X is particularly noteworthy given recent tensions between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and X owner Elon Musk.

Maduro has accused Musk of using X to incite protests over the disputed presidential election results, calling the actions part of a U.S.-backed attempt to destabilize Venezuela.

Maduro’s recent comments have escalated the situation, with the President denouncing Musk and accusing him of violating Venezuelan laws.

The digital restrictions highlight the escalating conflict between the Venezuelan government and international entities amid the ongoing political crisis.