EDIT: Not sure why this is NOT posting from inLeo, I will do it from PeakD this time.

Damn it! Australia is getting more and more restrictive with the various crypto events that we can take part in. This time it was KuCoin and OkX that removed support for their Earn programs as well as any events that required staking tokens such as Spotlights, Launchpads, and Launchpools.

And again, the reasons given are to do with the regulations in my particular country or region. And that means Australia... who is following in the misguided footsteps of the United States. It is quite frustrating to see that lock... and I'm not particularly keen to play funny buggers with VPNs as that has the potential to just make everything a LOT worse!

Weirdly enough, for KuCoin, they haven't really properly locked everything down in the mobile app... you can still apply for certain things, and not for other things... and sometimes, it glitches and lets you through anyway? And existing Earn products don't seem to have been dumped either... so, it is a bit of a half-arsed effort. It isn't really a killer problem for me... in the CEX panic of 2022, I had dumped a good chunk of KCS anyway, as there was some question about the exchange... but in the end, it turned out to be okay... or at least, okay enough to survive until this year. But there was a nice Spotlight that netted me a nice chunk of SUI, which I'm still receiving, and getting rid of bits of whilst shunting the rest onchain. And that does seem to be the way of the moment... just moving things on chain, as the rest of the CEXs start to "comply" with unclear local regulations.

Anyway, OKX was more of a new thing for me... but I did buy into a chunk of the exchange token which allowed me access to the Launchpads/pools that were always nice to be part of. However, that access is now lost as well... and I'm left holding pretty useless OKX tokens. I heard that they had launched their own chain recently... and I was about to jump onto it to from the in-app Web3 wallet... but it although I could make the wallet, I was NOT allowed to use the Defi part of it. Which really meant that I couldn't put those idle OKB tokens to work. Sigh... I will have to do it via a self-custodial wallet instead... not a problem, just a pain in the arse. I prefer that for these exchanges, I'm using their tokens in an ecosystem that has been vetted by their exchange rather than wandering out into the wilds of a new and unknown chain.

Arrrghh... I hope that Australia will come to its senses soon and just let the Americans do their own thing. It is frustrating that I'm starting to hold tokens that have had their utility completely nerfed!

I can also be found cross-posting at:
Hive
Steem
Publish0x

Handy Crypto Tools

Ledger Nano S/X: Keep your crypto safe and offline with the leading hardware wallet provider. Not your keys, not your crypto!
Coinbase Wallet: Multi chain wallet with lots of opportunities to Learn and Earn!
Binance: My first choice of centralised exchange, featuring a wide variety of crypto and savings products.
WooX: The centralised version of WooFi. Stake WOO for fee-free trades and free withdrawals! This link also gives you back 25% of the commission.
GMX.io: Decentralised perpetual futures trading on Arbitrum!
Coinbase: If you need a regulated and safe environment to trade, this is the first exchange for most newcomers!
Crypto.com: Mixed feelings, but they have the BEST looking VISA debit card in existence! Seriously, it is beautiful!
CoinList: Access to early investor and crowdsale of vetted and reserached projects.
Cointracking: Automated or manual tracking of crypto for accounting and taxation reports.
KuCoin: I still use this exchange to take part in the Spotlight and Burning Drop launches.
MEXC: Accepts HIVE, and trades in most poopcoins! Join the casino!
ByBit: Leverage and spot trading, next Binance?
OkX: Again, another Binance contender?