In a dramatic escalation of ongoing tensions, Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has been officially banned in Brazil, following a judicial order from the nation’s Supreme Court. This decision marks the climax of a prolonged conflict centered around accusations that the platform has been a breeding ground for disinformation, met with Musk’s staunch defense of free speech.

Judicial Crackdown

The ban stems from X’s defiance of a prior mandate to purge specific accounts. Consequently, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes decreed on Friday that internet service providers across the country, home to approximately 215 million people, must block access to X, as reported by The New York Times. Moreover, local outlets disclosed that individuals attempting to bypass the prohibition through VPNs could face penalties of up to 50,000 reais (approximately $8,900), according to the BBC.

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Implications for the Crypto Community

For Brazil’s cryptocurrency enthusiasts, this ruling severs a crucial link to a platform that has long functioned as a digital agora for the industry. Jack Dorsey, a fervent crypto advocate and co-founder of X (formerly known as Twitter), has championed alternative platforms like Nostr and Bluesky, though he has since distanced himself from the latter. In the wake of the ban, a developer from Bluesky noted an unprecedented surge in user activity, stating on the platform, “We’ve never seen traffic like this.”