Dear Brave Team,
I am writing as a user of Brave Browser who values the platform’s strong commitment to privacy and user autonomy.
I have recently encountered a significant issue with accessing BAT rewards held via Uphold, which I believe may be of concern given Brave’s privacy-focused positioning.
Without prior notice, Uphold has altered its authentication process such that access to an account now requires the use of their mobile application on either a Google Android or Apple device. As someone who deliberately avoids these ecosystems in favour of de-Googled devices and Linux-based systems, this presents a serious barrier to accessing funds earned through Brave.
While I understand and support the use of two-factor authentication for security purposes, the current implementation appears restrictive and poorly communicated. I was not given the opportunity to configure 2FA in advance, and I am now effectively locked out unless I adopt platforms I have consciously chosen to avoid. Uphold’s support has suggested enabling 2FA as a solution, but this requires account access in the first place, which is not currently possible.
In contrast, other platforms such as Kraken allow 2FA to be configured using standard authenticator applications, which aligns far better with privacy-conscious workflows. I personally use Aegis Authenticator on my de-Googled devices, and would expect similar flexibility from services integrated with Brave.
Given these circumstances, I would be very interested to understand Brave’s position on continuing to rely on Uphold as a custodial partner for BAT rewards. Specifically:
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Are you aware of these recent changes to Uphold’s authentication requirements?
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Do you consider this approach compatible with Brave’s privacy-first principles?
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Are there plans to offer alternative custodial or non-custodial options for BAT rewards?
This situation undermines the accessibility of BAT for users who have chosen privacy-respecting technologies, which I believe aligns closely with Brave’s core audience.
I appreciate your time and look forward to your response.