Venezuela restricts access to Binance and X amid election unrest

Venezuelan government blocks Binance, X, Reddit, and Signal amid election unrest.
CANTV, Venezuela’s state ISP, enforces the blockade as part of a crypto crackdown.
President Maduro accuses Elon Musk of inciting protests and violating laws.

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 disruption, reported on August 12, 2024, is attributed to the state-owned internet service provider CANTV, which has been enforcing the restrictions as part of a broader crackdown on digital services.

Binance’s DNS block

Local anti-censorship organization VE sin Filtro disclosed on August 9 that Binance’s website and mobile application had been rendered inaccessible in Venezuela due to a DNS block. This move is believed to be related to the government’s intensified scrutiny of cryptocurrency trading within 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 acknowledged the blockade and assured its Venezuelan clients that their funds remain secure under the company’s robust security protocols. The exchange is actively engaging with local authorities to resolve the issue, though a timeline for restoring access remains uncertain.

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 notable due to recent tensions between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and X owner Elon Musk.

Maduro has accused Musk of using X to incite protests related to the disputed presidential election results, labelling the actions as part of a US-backed attempt to destabilize Venezuela.

Maduro’s recent remarks have intensified the situation, with the President condemning Musk and accusing him of violating Venezuelan laws.

The ongoing digital restrictions underscore the escalating conflict between the Venezuelan government and various international entities amidst the current political crisis.