Uniswap & ConsenSys Making Excuses For Their Data Collection Processes

GM Readers!📪 It's Bitdegree Insider, and that's what we got for today.

⭐️Today's selection:

• 🦄Uniswap And 🦊Metamask Struggles Are Real
• 🔥Acquisitions On The Table: Voyager And Poloniex Edition
• 🧩Answer To Yesterday's Puzzle
• 👌Selected Meme Of The Day
• 📰Bite-Sized News

MORE (MIS)UNDERSTANDINGS WITH UNISWAP AND METAMASK

Popular decentralized exchange Uniswap recently announced new data rules. They are starting to collect certain parameters on-chain and off-chain.

These parameters are device type, location, cookies, and user crypto wallets. Of course, this caused a wave of criticism in the community.

In response, lead developer Hayden Adams was quick to reassure users via Twitter.

Firstly, he stressed that Uniswap does not track client IP addresses. Additionally, the exchange uses a proxy server to prevent the interception of IP addresses by third-party APIs.

Especially the ones like Infura - which is a part of ConsenSys. And the latter created the MetaMask, whose latest adventures we told you about yesterday.

Secondly, this DEX will soon introduce an opt-out option for collecting analytics. That is, customers who do not want to share personal data will simply be able to click a button and opt out.

"In the meantime, this can already be done through ad blockers," Adams added.

Oh, and since we've mentioned the MetaMask…

The crypto wallet's developers recently added to the table that only the wording had actually changed. Allegedly, the app was accumulating user data before. Well… that's just great, isn't it?

Devs stated that collecting data is not Infura-specific and is generally consistent with how web architecture works.

They also added that they continue to pursue technical solutions to minimize data exposure, including anonymization techniques.

One way or another, the calls to potentially switch to another service are getting louder and louder.

What can we do?

• Staying with Metamask. Change your RPC provider if you want to continue using Metamask. Guide here. Or, keep all the settings to default, depending on how you want to take care of your privacy;
• Switching. You can try other popular wallets like TrustWallet or any other (please do the research, though). Regarding TrustWallet, they are launching a $50,000 rewards campaign in honor of releasing the browser version of the wallet. Check the guide on how to participate on our freshly created Telegram Channel!

TL;DR: Uniswap made an excuse about data policy and explained how users could increase their anonymity. MetaMask devs stated that they're working on improving anonymity, though IPs were collected even before yesterday. That's just how ''web architecture works''.

MERGERS…ACQUISITIONS…INVESTMENTS

Binance has submitted a bid to buy the bankrupt Voyager platform.

The cryptocurrency exchange tried to repurchase the crypto lender's assets in September'22…

FTX and other companies participated in the auction. FTX won the auction. But due to the bankruptcy of Sam Bankman-Fried's empire, Voyager is now looking for a new buyer.

A strong competitor to Binance - another trading company, CrossTower Inc, participated in the September tender as well.

CrossTower said they plan to compete again for Voyager's assets. And they are also considering acquisitions of other blockchain companies.

The reason? No embarrassment by the current crypto winter! 🥶

The Poloniex exchange wants to merge with the Huobi platform. Both companies are owned by businessman Justin Sun. He's a founder of TRON, too. (If you would better associate him that way. :))

This is a logical move, as the Poloniex has a small trading volume compared to Huobi (according to Coingecko, it is a difference of about 10 times).

In addition, Poloniex has stopped making deposits and withdrawals of USDT, USDC, TUSD and BUSD stablecoins on the BEP20 network (BSC). Plus, it offers to convert them to ERC20 and TRC20 networks.

In response, Justin Sun began to be accused of refusing to support BNB Chain. To which he stated:

Perhaps by a "big partnership", he meant participation in the Crypto Recovery Fund. The Binance exchange created it to support problematic projects during a difficult period.

Changpeng Zhao has already allocated $1 billion for this (and another billion for the SAFU insurance fund).

Many industry players have already joined this initiative – including Jump Crypto, Polygon Ventures, Aptos Labs, and others. They have invested $50 million in assets into the fund. Other brands are expected to join them.

Well, Binance gives a heat… However, in a recent interview, CZ was cold as an iceberg:

*mic drop*

 TL;DR: Binance.US has submitted a bid to buy Voyager, but they have a strong competitor. Justin Sun plans to merge Huobi & Poloniex exchanges. Many crypto companies are to partner with the biggest recovery fund. 

ANSWER TO YESTERDAY'S PUZZLE

There are 7 unique Tokens/Coins in the picture

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Matic, Doge, Litecoin, BNB

SELECTED MEME OF THE DAY

BITE-SIZED NEWS

• Belgium Doesn't Consider Decentralized Cryptocurrencies to Be Securities. Apparently, for coins issued with a computer code, rules do not apply.
• Uzbekistan Gives Regulatory Approvals to Two Local Crypto Service Providers. The Asian crypto market is about to get bigger. Legally.
• Digital Bank Starling Prohibits Crypto-Related Transactions. The Bank decided not to support 'high risk and heavily used for criminal purposes' cryptocurrencies. Oh well.