Discord CEO Hints at Crypto Wallet Integration, Some Users Boycott
CEO and founder Jason Cintron tweeted a screengrab on Tuesday that showed Discord’s platform connecting to Ethereum via crypto wallets such as MetaMask.
Source: Blockworks
key takeaways
- Users voiced concerns around the potential integration, citing the impact of cryptocurrency on the environment
- One former volunteer moderator for Discord described the prospective move from the app as another “[attempt] to capitalize on a Silicon Valley trend.”
Discord, one of the world’s largest messaging apps, could soon have cryptocurrency wallet integration, the company’s chief executive officer tweeted early Tuesday morning.
CEO and founder Jason Cintron posted a screengrab that shows Discord’s platform connecting to Ethereum via wallets such as MetaMask. If integrated, the feature could allow users to send each other crypto. The executive doubled down and later retweeted his initial post that hinted at future blockchain capabilities.
However, the platform does not currently have this feature, as of press time.
Following Citron’s tweets, certain Discord users responded with concerns, citing the impact of crypto on the environment, security issues that could ensue on the app and more.
Some have boycotted by canceling (or have threatened to cancel) the app’s subscription service, known as “Nitro”, according to Discord’s official website. Outside posts under the gaming company’s “feedback” section consist of titles such as “I’ll straight up leave and use Slack if you integrate NFTs” and “Shout from the rooftops [about] how much you don’t want crypto integration.”
Elsewhere, a screenshot of a previous Discord survey surfaced on Tuesday. The questionnaire (apparently from August) asked users about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and “Discord-native wallets” which could (in theory) allow users to have a digital wallet attached to their account. Blockworks did not have access to the results of this survey, as of press time.
“We’re always exploring and hacking away at things we think will improve Discord for all the communities we serve,” a company spokesperson told The Verge. “This includes research that helps us learn about what people want.”
One former volunteer Discord moderator, who agreed to be interviewed under the condition of anonymity, described the potential integration as another “[attempt] to capitalize on a Silicon Valley trend.”
“I’m personally against blockchain tech in its current state due to the energy consumption problem,” the ex-moderator of two years said, who was recently removed from the program after voicing concerns over leadership changes. “This is another example of Citron putting monetary gain and personal interest before user (or even employee) interest.”
Discord did not immediately respond to Blockworks’ request for comment.
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