Venezuela Blocks Binance and Social Media Amid Election Unrest

Amid rising tensions over disputed presidential election results, Venezuela’s government has taken drastic measures to control the flow of information. On August 9, local anti-censorship group VE sin Filtro reported that access to the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, social media platform X (formerly Twitter), and other online services has been blocked. The censorship comes as part of a broader crackdown on digital platforms in the wake of contested election outcomes.

Binance and Other Services Affected

According to VE sin Filtro, a DNS block has been imposed on Binance, affecting both its website and mobile application. Binance’s Latin American-focused X account confirmed these reports, noting that users in Venezuela are experiencing access issues. The exchange reassured users that their funds remain secure and stated that it is closely monitoring the situation to address the problem as swiftly as possible.

In Venezuela, Binance’s peer-to-peer (P2P) service is particularly popular, as it allows users to exchange cash for cryptocurrency directly. This service has become increasingly vital for Venezuelans dealing with hyperinflation of the Venezuelan bolívar.

VE sin Filtro has suggested that Venezuelans use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the government-imposed blocks.

The block on Binance and other services follows Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s announcement on August 8, in which he instructed the telecommunications regulator Conatel to block access to X for ten days. This directive came amidst a backdrop of heightened political tension and a public spat between Maduro and X owner Elon Musk, who have both challenged each other to fights in recent months.

Additionally, the encrypted messaging app Signal was blocked on the same day, although it remains accessible with “censorship circumvention” settings enabled, according to internet monitoring project NetBlocks.

Election Dispute Fuels Unrest

The recent wave of censorship follows significant unrest after the July 28 presidential election. President Nicolás Maduro and rival candidate Edmundo González have both declared victory, with Maduro’s government-controlled electoral authority announcing him as the winner with just over 51% of the vote. In contrast, González has claimed victory with nearly 70% based on voting machine printouts collected by his party.

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and several South American countries have not recognized Maduro’s claim to the presidency, calling for a detailed vote count and raising concerns about the transparency of the electoral process.

As Venezuela grapples with election-related unrest, the government’s move to block access to key digital platforms like Binance and X underscores the country’s tightening grip on information flow. The situation remains fluid, with international observers and local citizens closely watching the developments.