OpenSea Restricts Users in Iran Due to U.S. Sanctions
What the policy means for affected creators and collectors, plus practical steps to safeguard assets and data.
- Legal compliance: Marketplaces must follow sanctions rules; access from certain regions can be blocked.
- On-chain vs. platform: NFTs in self-custody stay on-chain, but listing/bidding features can be disabled.
- Backups & records: Preserve wallet addresses, tx hashes, and off-chain metadata (images, JSON) you control.
Context: Sanctions & NFT Marketplaces
U.S.-based or U.S.-connected platforms generally enforce sanctions using IP geoblocking, KYC checks, and activity monitoring. Policies can change as regulations evolve and providers refine compliance controls.
Who’s Impacted & How
- Accounts in sanctioned regions: Access to listing, buying, and selling may be disabled.
- Custodial dependencies: If any storage or payments flow is custodial, withdrawals can be restricted.
- Third-party apps: Wallets/indexers may show assets, but marketplace actions can fail due to policy.
Practical Steps for Creators & Collectors
- Self-custody first: Ensure your NFTs are in wallets you control. Back up seed phrases offline.
- Back up metadata: Pin artwork/metadata to decentralized storage (IPFS/Arweave) and keep copies.
- Export records: Save tx hashes, token IDs, provenance notes, and royalty settings you control.
- Avoid risky workarounds: Circumventing sanctions can carry legal risk. Seek legal advice first.
Informational only—not legal advice. If you think your account was flagged in error, contact support via official channels.
Risks, Workarounds & Cautions
- Visibility loss: Items may be delisted or hidden until restrictions lift.
- Royalty interruptions: Off-chain royalty enforcement can stop if listings are disabled.
- Security: Beware phishing claiming to “restore” access. Verify domains and signatures.
FAQs
Are my NFTs gone if I can’t log in?
No. If they’re in a self-custodied wallet, they remain on-chain. Access to this marketplace’s features can be restricted.
Can I move NFTs to another marketplace?
Transfers on-chain may still be possible, but other platforms may enforce similar rules. Review each platform’s policy and your local laws.
How do I prove ownership?
Ownership is tied to your wallet’s private key. On-chain explorers (e.g., Etherscan) show token ownership and history via tx hashes and token IDs.
Comments
Post a Comment