DeFiLlama founder 0xngmi publicly accused Blockworks of reselling DeFiLlama’s free knowledge on a paid analytics platform for $4,500 per 12 months on X, sparking an instantaneous and widespread neighborhood response.
The accusations got here on the identical day that Blockworks co-founder Jason Janowitz issued a prolonged announcement saying Blockworks could be closing its information division and transitioning fully to a software program and knowledge group.
Jason Yanowitz posted an announcement explaining the corporate’s course. He stated that when he and Michael Ippolito based Blockworks in 2017, they wished to handle what he known as the “data drawback” at a time when cryptocurrencies have been quickly increasing and dependable trade reporting was missing.
Jason writes that Blockworks constructed occasions, podcasts, analysis merchandise, knowledge dashboards, and finally a newsroom. He stated the corporate anticipated report income in 2025 and one other report 12 months in 2026, noting significantly speedy progress in its knowledge division.
Jason wrote that buyers and crypto protocols depend on Blockworks’ knowledge day by day, and that he and Michael see the info enterprise as the corporate’s largest alternative since its inception.
Blockworks’ CEO then confirmed that Blockworks could be exiting information, stating that crypto media has matured and customers are primarily targeted on knowledge dashboards relatively than conventional articles.
Jason thanked the reporters on the information group and inspired different organizations to rent them, earlier than noting that Blockworks will proceed to run newsletters, podcasts and occasions, and that the DAS convention might be held in Abu Dhabi subsequent 12 months.
DeFiLlama takes on Blockworks over paid knowledge dashboard
Instantly after Jason’s announcement, 0xngmi quoted the submit saying:
“I feel it is nice that Blockworks is turning into a data-first group, however you can begin by not reselling your free knowledge for $4.5 million a 12 months in opposition to our phrases of service, even after telling us that you just deleted all of your knowledge upon our request. Screenshot of blockworks paid platform 1 minute in the past.”
The connected screenshot displayed a graph that seemed to be generated from DeFiLlama’s knowledge inside Blockworks’ paywalled dashboard. Examine beneath:-
Supply: 0xngmi/X
Dan Smith, head of information at Blockworks, responded beneath the tweet:
“The graph you confirmed would not present any knowledge as a result of, as we mentioned within the DM, using DL knowledge on the platform was deprecated a couple of months in the past following ToS adjustments. That is an edge case the place the dashboard builder will show each graph ever created, no matter whether or not it exists/knowledge has been up to date. Thanks for giving me bonus factors for the flowery tweet as a substitute of simply DMing it.”
0xngmi responded by calling Dan a liar and including that the “Utility Income by Chain” graph proven within the screenshot labored and returned DeFiLlama knowledge.
Dan responded, “Effectively, like I stated in my final DM, it hasn’t been up to date since July. There is no motive to not comply with up with, ‘Hey, there should be a bug.'”
0xngmi identified:-
“The graph I discussed included knowledge for this month (October 2025).”
Since then, Dan hasn’t responded. Thread engagement exhibits that 0xngmi’s replies obtain extra likes than Dan’s, a generally acknowledged sample in X, which implies the neighborhood is on DeFiLlama’s facet.
The dialog continued to unfold broadly, with customers sharing screenshots and feedback about compliance with phrases of use and the platform’s transparency.
Group reacts to Blockworks newsroom cuts
On the identical time, the choice to dismiss the information workers itself provoked a backlash.
Many locally are outraged by Jason’s assertion, which begins by emphasizing report income and only some paragraphs later when he mentions the departure of a journalist who helped carry Blockworks to prominence.
Critics stated the tone framed the layoffs as an final result.
Martyna MBL, Senior Director at Serotonin, commented:
“Okay, that is a fairly tone-deaf method of conveying main layoffs, particularly if you’re main with ‘report earnings’ and ‘important progress.’ It is not nearly appears to be like, it is about respect. Layoffs as a footnote to the victory lap.” It provides folks the impression of how a lot they worth the group that helped construct their credibility within the first place. I actually hope the affected reporters reply rapidly. They’re truthfully among the greatest within the enterprise.”
Different customers echoed this sentiment, claiming that Blockworks’ newsroom helped improve the model’s visibility throughout the trade throughout a market cycle that required clear reporting.
Others famous that the timing of the info resale allegations amplified the response, as the corporate positioned itself as a trusted knowledge supplier on the identical day it was accused of misusing knowledge from one other mission.
