Abstract has sparked a controversy about platform moderation and decentralisation after removing @inhuman—a web3 gamer and streamer—from Abstract’s streaming whitelist.
The decision to revoke these privileges was defended by Marketing Lead Phin who stated that the platform had limited capacity and had to prioritise active streamers.
However, the situation quickly escalated as other community members weighed in, with some supporting the platform’s stance whilst others criticised its approach as being inconsistent with decentralised principles.
What was the controversy all about?
After discovering their removal, @inhuman took to X to express frustration after realising that he had been removed from the streaming whitelist.
In response, Phin claimed that @inhuman had previously stated they did not intend to stream again and had “went on a week long fud campaign telling teams to ditch Abstract” due to his dissatisfaction with its XP reward system.
Abstract’s streaming feature is currently limited to around 1,000 streamers at a time, and inactive participants are rotated out to allow more active users to participate. Phin maintained that this decision was based solely on streaming activity rather than any personal grievances.
What has been the community reaction?
As the debate unfolded, community members expressed differing opinions with some agreeing with Abstract’s decision, arguing that those who actively criticise a platform should not expect continued access. Others viewed the situation as indicative of centralised control over participation.
Some users supported the move, stating that streamers who had previously dismissed Abstract should not expect preferential treatment when attempting to return.
The Abstract blockchain has faced mounting challenges since its launch—including a recent exploit—and this latest controversy only added to ongoing concerns about platform governance and decentralisation, leading some to question whether Abstract is living up to its vision as an open and inclusive Layer-2 solution on Ethereum.
Blockchain evangelist. Content creator & graphic design hobbyist. Loves gaming!