Email marketing platform Mailchimp has suspended the accounts of crypto-related content creators and media outlets this week.
The list of affected customers includes self-storage crypto wallet Edge, crypto intelligence firm and Messari, and Decryptwho had used Mailchimp for their newsletter for more than four years.
“Thank you for deplatforming some of crypto’s most recognized brands in the last 48 hours,” Messari Founder Ryan Selkis tweeted on Mailchimp Wednesday. “You prove our point. Mailchimp – and all speech sensors – must be destroyed.”
Messari Marketing Manager Jared Ronis added, “Not only was there zero warning, we don’t even have access to our subscriber lists. If @Mailchimpthe administration of crypto clients is so random, I shudder to think what enforcement looks like for actual nefarious actors.” (This was also Decrypthis experience: no warning and no explanation of the breach.)
A number of recent bans
There were several reports on Crypto Twitter about suspended Mailchimp accounts in the last two weeks.
Edge’s problems began on Monday as the company prepared to send out its bi-weekly newsletter. When community manager Joely Garcia attempted to log into the account, it returned as a “disabled” account.
Edge Wallet CEO Paul Puey believes the problem lies in “good old fashioned email” and that it hasn’t been brought into Web3 yet.
“While Web3 is making a lot of efforts to find other ways to communicate with people, if you’re trying to push email,” Puey said Decrypt over the phone, “you’re kind of stuck with platforms like Mailchimp.”
On August 1st, NFT artist Ocarina tweeted that their Mailchimp account was suspended when he tried to send out a message about an upcoming NFT drop. Ocarina got more of an explanation from Mailchimp than anyone else did: “Because the content related to your industry conflicts with our acceptable use guidelines.”
Jesse Friedland, founder of NFT collective Cryptoon Goonz, tweeted that he was banned on August 5th. “Apparently there is too much ‘risk’ serving companies involved in crypto. Despite applying as an Apparel brand. Extremely disappointing.”
Friedland shared a screenshot of the email he received from Mailchimp, which warned: “We cannot allow businesses involved in the sale, transaction, trade, exchange, storage, marketing or production of cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies and any digital assets.”
And Greg Osuri, founder of the peer-to-peer Akash Network, tweeted that Akash was also banned.
When asked if he thinks Mailchimp’s decision to suspend the accounts last week was related to the sanctions against Tornado Cash, Edge Wallet CEO Puey said it crossed his mind because of the timing. Nevertheless, he does not believe there is any connection.
“It’s simple, basic communication over email, something that hundreds of companies use with no implication of illegal activity, no implication,” he said. “Email is absolutely 100% in the clear, it’s completely transparent – it’s the most non-private communication you can choose to use.”
Puey believes that the culprit may be a high-up at Mailchimp who dislikes crypto.
“I think it’s just incredibly short-sighted,” he said.
A history of anti-crypto policies
Although Mailchimp has not responded Decryptits inquiries this week, Mailchimp has a history of suspending crypto publisher accounts (including Blockwork)many of them back in 2018.
At the time, the company responded to a similar complaint on Twitter by saying: “Cryptocurrency-related information is not necessarily prohibited. It can be sent as long as the sender is not involved in the production, sale, exchange, storage or marketing of cryptocurrencies.”
Under “Prohibited Content,” the company’s acceptable use guidelines list “Cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies, and all digital assets associated with an initial coin offering,” and state that “we do not allow businesses that offer these types of services, products, or content. “
Mailchimp was acquired by financial giant Intuit last year. The service was compromised by an “insider” in April, and users of Trezor hardware wallets were targeted in a phishing campaign. Affected users then filed a class action lawsuit against Intuit.
“Which email provider will let me send out NFT content to my community? Mailchimp just blocked me smh,” NFT marketer Olumide Gbenro tweeted late last month.
Mailchimp is not alone in its shitness around crypto. Constant Contact, one of the largest email marketing platforms, also lists cryptocurrency under its prohibited content policy.
Frustrated Mailchimp users are now eagerly looking for other services that are happy to host crypto-related content.
Stay up to date on crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox.
