Wasabi Wallet developer zkSNACKs blocks access for US users

Wasabi Wallet developer zkSNACKs is blocking U.S. citizens from accessing its services.  

According to an April 27 post on the Wasabi Wallet website, the ban applies to U.S. citizens and residents, including those with permanent residency or a U.S. passport.

It will take effect immediately.

U.S. citizens will now be unable to visit websites like wasabiwallet.io, api.wasabiwallet.io, and zksnacks.com.

zkSNACKs said it has blocked U.S. citizens and residents from accessing its websites and downloading or using the Wasabi Wallet and related services like APIs and RPC interfaces. 

“U.S.” refers to “United States” and includes the several states of the United States and related territories. If you are a United States citizen or United States resident, you are not allowed to visit any of the of the sites aforementioned, download Wasabi Wallet, or use the Wasabi Wallet coin-join feature. This includes whether you are a U.S. permanent resident or if you are an individual who holds a U.S. passport.

zkSNACKs, Wasabi Wallet developer

The developer cited “recent announcements by U.S. authorities” as the reason behind its new stance, a move that sees zkSNACKs join a growing list of crypto platforms adjusting their services due to increased scrutiny from U.S. regulators. 

Phoenix Wallet, for instance, announced it would cease operations for U.S. residents starting May 3, removing its app from U.S. app stores. As reported by crypto.news, ACINQ, the company behind Phoenix Wallet, advised its U.S. users to withdraw funds promptly but cautioned against force-closing wallets to avoid higher fees.

Like zkSNACKs, ACINQ claimed the decision to pull Phoenix Wallet from U.S. app stores follows concerns raised by recent U.S. government statements regarding potential regulation of self-custodial wallets, Lightning service providers, and Lightning nodes.

Only days ago, federal prosecutors in New York indicted the founders of Samourai Wallet, alleging their involvement in illegal transactions totaling over $2 billion. The charges carry severe penalties, highlighting a broader crackdown by U.S. authorities on crypto wallets and mixers involved in activities deemed questionable.

This development has sparked controversy within the crypto community, with some advocating for privacy rights in the context of Bitcoin’s principles.