ConsenSys, the parent company of the popular crypto wallet MetaMask, has addressed and dispelled rumors suggesting that it collects taxes from cryptocurrency users. The company emphasized that the circulating information was based on misinterpretations of MetaMask’s terms of service.
In a tweet to its 270,000 followers on May 22, ConsenSys clarified that the rumors about MetaMask collecting taxes were unfounded. The company stated that the confusion arose from misreading its terms of service and assured users that it does not withhold taxes on on-chain crypto transactions.
The Misunderstood Tax Section
Some crypto community members expressed concerns on May 21 after noticing a section in MetaMask’s terms of service stating that the company “reserved the right to withhold taxes where required.” This led to speculation that it might be related to users’ income taxes. However, ConsenSys clarified that this specific tax section solely pertained to products and paid plans offered by MetaMask, not the users’ personal tax obligations.
The misinformation quickly gained attention, reaching the front page of the r/cryptocurrency subreddit on Reddit. As of publication, the post had received over 500 upvotes and 600 comments. Screenshots of the highlighted section also spread on Twitter, with some accounts asserting that MetaMask was following the recently controversial path by Ledger.
Community Response
Despite the rapid spread of the rumors, not everyone in the crypto community bought into the speculation. Some members quickly refuted the claims, emphasizing the importance of thoroughly reading and understanding MetaMask’s terms of service. Pseudonymous Twitter user printer_brrr called out those blindly tweeting about the alleged tax clause without comprehending its true meaning.
