ConsenSys says it collects user data related to its on-chain wallet service MetaMask, following a similar announcement by decentralized exchange Uniswap
The firm said when using Infura as an RPC on MetaMask, a user's IP address and wallet address information would also be collected.
CoinDeskParikshit Mishra
Context & Ripple Effects
MetaMask was already a large ConsenSys product, with the company reporting more than 30 million monthly active users in its earlier funding announcement. The disclosure puts the wallet's Infura connection in the same privacy debate as Uniswap's data-collection policy.
The immediate policy became contentious enough that ConsenSys later stopped logging IP addresses directly alongside transaction data. That revision makes the original disclosure a consequential test of how wallet infrastructure handles consent and user-identifying metadata.
First-order effects
MetaMask users who connect through Infura have their IP address and wallet address collected by ConsenSys, making that RPC path a point where network and on-chain identifiers meet.
ConsenSys must defend the collection practice for a wallet product with a large existing user base, while Uniswap's prior disclosure provides a visible comparison for users evaluating decentralized interfaces.
Wallet and exchange interfaces using centralized service layers face stronger incentives to explain which provider receives user data and under what connection settings.
Third-order effects
The episode points to a durable distinction between decentralized on-chain activity and the centralized access services used to reach it: privacy competition shifts toward RPC configuration and consent architecture.
If similar disclosures continue, wallet and exchange providers will increasingly differentiate their access layers by the metadata they retain and the controls they give users.
The trend: Crypto applications are being judged not only by protocol decentralization but by the data practices of the wallet, RPC, and web layers around them.
ConsenSys announced an update to its privacy policy on November 23 (including metamask infura and more): When you use Infura as your default RPC provider in MetaMask, Infura will collect your IP address and your Ethereum wallet address when you send a transaction. https://twitter…
@WuBlockchain I think we can get this fixed soon. We are not using IP addresses even if they are being temporarily stored, which they don't need to be, as we're not using them for anything.
However, if you're using your own Ethereum node or a third party RPC provider with MetaMask, then neither Infura nor MetaMask will collect your IP address or Ethereum wallet address.
Switching RPC's on MetaMask is trivially easy and there are plenty of good alternatives out there these days Here's an (incomplete) list of alternatives: https://ethereumnodes.com/ Of course, the best alternative is to use your own full node as an RPC 🤓 https://twitter.com/...
Hoping to add opt-out of analytics setting soon for people who want to be excluded from tracking of the non-personally identifiable stuff that we use for improving our product (stuff like iOS vs android) In the meantime, you can do this already with an adblocker..
Another reason to use a VPN. 💯 The best security is not being an easy target. Security through obscurity. I use https://go.nordvpn.net/... for less than 3$ a month. (Also a #blackfriday deal thru the link for 4 Free Months +65% Off) Much more at peace of mind. #eth #defi #hex htt…
Sooooo MetaM 🦊 + Infura are tracking you by default now. See next tweet for how to avoid being tracked entirely and still use Metamask if you want, or @0xFrame, or any wallet where you can set up your own RPC. https://twitter.com/...
🚨 MetaMask Tracking IP Address 🚨 Consensys, the company that owns MetaMask, just updated its Privacy Policy to state that they are collecting your IP ADDRESS and your ETH ADDRESS when you send a transaction. Source: https://consensys.net/... Your options 🧵 ↓ 1/4 https://twitter.c…
.@Uniswap could run their front-end on the Internet Computer | #ICP blockchain under the control of a DAO Users could initiate trades more securely using their fingerprint etc too (II + Chain Key TX). Demo already created. Not much work & we'd love to help! #Decentralize #ETH htt…
If people read our our blog post instead of angry Twitter threads they would realize Uniswap web app both: 1) does not track IP 2) actually prevents your IP address from being tracked by third party apis like infura and trm using a proxy server https://twitter.com/...
🚨CONSENSYS UPDATES ON NOV. 23 When using Infura, the default Remote Procedure Call (RPC) provider in MetaMask, it will “collect your IP address and your Ethereum wallet address when you send a transaction.” https://twitter.com/...
#Ethereum this is no good. The only way to protect user data is to never have it. A database of IP to #ETH address is unacceptable. Change your RPC in #Metamask to avoid this trash. Avoid the million scam bots and impostors that will post in this thread. https://twitter.com/...
Uniswap Labs released its Privacy Policy: will collect public on-chain data and limited off-chain data like device type, browser version, etc; will not collect and store personal data; may share your wallet address with with analytics providers to detect, prevent financial crime.
STOP using @Uniswap $UNI They've expanded their collection of on/ off chain data connected to your wallets eg - mobile deviceID - cookies - localStorage - device/ browser language - screen wallets via 3rd party ... 🚨even share social media activity with analytics provides. wtf
The crypto-libertarian dream for crypto is dying, and frankly I don't mind The focus needs to be on continuing to work towards a new banking system, not a new digital society that shields people from living by the rules of collective action (governments) https://twitter.com/...
okay... 1. where tf did you get my email?? 2. why do you want to send my data to the feds 3. where TF is my airdrop?? @ConsenSys https://twitter.com/...
If MetaMask users don't recognise by now how fucked up “decentralized and uncensorable Ethereum” fairy tale is, they are even bigger idiots than I thought them to be. https://www.coindesk.com/...
Uniswap Labs: we may share your data in the course of litigation, regulatory proceedings, compliance measures, and when compelled by subpoena, court order, or other legal procedure. https://uniswap.org/...
The Uniswap team includes: • former Chainalysis exec * former NYSE president * former Obama senior spokesman * former Federal Reserve economist * former BlackRock executive ...and you're surprised they're collecting your data? WAKE UP!! https://www.theblock.co/...