DeFi analyst Chris Bleck claims the VPN user ban is an "actual war on privacy."
In a move that has drawn widespread disapproval, MakerDAO has decided to block access to its newly introduced lending platform, Spark Protocol, for those using virtual private networks (VPNs).
The decision is seemingly connected to MakerDAO's intentions to prevent US investors from gaining access to the cryptocurrency lending platform. The measure was included in the Spark Protocol's May 9th terms of service update, which warned against the use of VPNs to evade the block.
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Those attempting to reach the Spark Protocol website via a VPN currently face an error message that reads:
Accessing this website via VPN is not allowed.
On August 6th, a DeFi analyst Chris Blec publicly expressed his disappointment over the decision. Blec pointed out that this decision essentially implies a worldwide blanket ban on VPNs. On top of that, the man called such a decision an "actual war on privacy."
It’s one thing to block US residents. It’s a whole other thing to block anyone in the entire world who is using a VPN for privacy.
Identifying himself as an advocate for decentralization and privacy, Blec did not shy away from criticizing Rune Christensen, the creator of MakerDAO, and the company's other developers.
In a subsequent tweet, Blec alleged that they had chosen profits over user privacy, saying:
The root of the problem here is that these developers are putting profit over principle. They’re putting their bank account balance ahead of your privacy and your rights.
Spark Protocol was unveiled in May, allowing users to earn up to 8% in annual returns by lending DAI. Phoenix Labs established the lending platform as a soft fork of Aave v3.
MakerDAO's Spark Protocol has faced criticism for banning VPN users, widely seen as an assault on global privacy. As the debate intensifies, the company remains silent, amplifying concerns about prioritizing profit over user privacy.
