Have you ever thought that simply using a VPN to switch regions can allow access to DeFi protocols with "regional restrictions"? Or even feel that in the decentralized world, protocols don't really control you?

If you think so, your assets are facing risks you can't imagine.

The most easily overlooked but potentially most deadly aspect is the protocol's terms of use. Taking a leading lending protocol as an example, its terms explicitly prohibit using VPNs, proxies, and other means to bypass geographic or regulatory restrictions. Any unauthorized access could be illegal and result in legal consequences.

This is not to scare you. Once your address is flagged for "unauthorized access," the protocol can freeze your operations. Your collateral assets may be locked, your earnings frozen, and your account could be permanently banned. More seriously, this isn't limited to protocol-level restrictions; it could also involve legal issues in your region.

Many people casually operate their wallets with VPNs, thinking everything is foolproof. In reality, every on-chain transaction and each IP address can be traced. You may have already violated the terms without realizing it.

So why insist on strict compliance? It's not that the protocol wants to make things difficult for you. Instead, it's to protect the assets of legitimate users, maintain the protocol's long-term legality, and combat black-market activities like money laundering and fraud.

A protocol that truly cares about compliance can survive longer. Only then can your assets be truly protected.