Metamask's Infura RPC will start tracking the IP addresses of users who make transactions using Metamask.
The move has come under intense scrutiny on Crypto Twitter with many Metamask users believing it's time to change their wallet provider or switch their RPC network.
Metamask is a DeFi web3 wallet with over 10 million users. At the bottom of this page is a quick guide on how to change your Metamask RPC network.
Metamask Infura to track IP addresses and ETH address
Metamask is owned by Consensys, a blockchain software company. According to Consensys’s updated privacy policy, Metamask’s Infrua RPC network will “collect your IP address and your Ethereum wallet address when you send a transaction.”
From Consensys:
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.
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
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Some frustrated traders who use Metamask to hold and trade cryptocurrencies have chosen to change their RPC network rather than downloading a new web3 wallet.
An RPC provider is a server, or node, that collects and reads blockchain data. Changing RPC nodes may be the best thing to do for Metamask users who don’t agree with Infura’s policies but want to stay with Metamask.
An alternative Metamask RPC server that does not track user IP addresses is Alchemy. Alchemy is a long-time blockchain scaling platform and node provider.
TrustWallet may be a reliable alternative web3 wallet for Metamask users willing to jump ship and find a new home for their crypto holdings. For many traders, the move comes as a blow to decentralisation and privacy.
How to change Metamask RPC
Here’s a quick guide on how to change your Metamask RPC network.
- Create an Alchemy account on the official Alchemy website.
- Make an API key for the Ethereum network.
- Sign into Metamask then click Networks then ‘Add Network’.
- Enter Alchemy’s details including, Network name, New RPC URL and Chain ID.
- Once you’re done, save the network and connect to it.
Visit Alchemy for more help.
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