Cloudflare Disruption Highlights the Inherent Dangers of Centralized Internet Infrastructure

Bitget App

Trade smarter

Bitget

News

Markets

Cloudflare Disruption Highlights the Inherent Dangers of Centralized Internet Infrastructure

Bitget-RWA2025/11/19 02:00

By:Bitget-RWA

- Cloudflare's Nov 18 global outage disrupted services for ChatGPT, X, Shopify , and crypto platforms due to a configuration file error exceeding expected size limits. - The incident caused 500 errors affecting 20% of Cloudflare-dependent websites, with 5,000+ user complaints reported at peak disruption. - Shares fell 4% premarket as experts warned about systemic risks from internet infrastructure consolidation, highlighting vulnerabilities exposed by outages at Amazon , Microsoft , and now Cloudflare . -

On November 18, 2025, Cloudflare Inc. (NET) experienced a significant worldwide outage, impacting major services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Elon Musk's social platform X, Shopify, and several cryptocurrency-related sites including Arbiscan and BitMEX. The disruption,

which was linked to an internal configuration mistake

, resulted in a surge of 500 errors and led the company to temporarily suspend operations in the UK to help restore network stability.

The interruption, starting at approximately 10:20 UTC

, impacted more than one-fifth of all websites globally that depend on Cloudflare’s systems, with

Downdetector recording upwards of 5,000 user issues

at the height of the event.

A Cloudflare representative explained that the outage was triggered when a configuration file "exceeded the anticipated number of entries,"

leading to a failure in the traffic management systems

supporting their services. The company

stressed there was no indication

of any malicious interference. By 14:30 UTC, Cloudflare had resolved the problem, although

the company’s stock price dropped close to 4%

in premarket trading,

adding to a previous 3.5% decrease

from earlier trading sessions. This downward trend reflected growing investor anxiety over the dependability of such services,

especially following recent outages at Amazon and Microsoft

Cloudflare Disruption Highlights the Inherent Dangers of Centralized Internet Infrastructure image 0

This outage

highlighted weaknesses in the global internet framework

, with specialists cautioning against the dangers of depending too heavily on a small number of providers.

Cloudflare’s position as a vital hub

for worldwide web traffic—helping to defend against cyberattacks and enhance speed—demonstrated how far-reaching such failures can be.

Services such as X, League of Legends

, and even New Jersey Transit’s online platforms experienced outages, while

blockchain explorers and crypto exchanges

also encountered sporadic disruptions.

Cloudflare’s actions to address the issue included

rolling out corrections and restoring services

in London, with the company reporting that error rates had normalized for certain platforms. Nonetheless, the event reignited concerns about the inherent vulnerabilities of the internet’s structure. As one cybersecurity analyst remarked, "When critical infrastructure is concentrated in just a few companies, it introduces global systemic risks"

as noted by industry experts

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

PoolX: Earn new token airdrops

Lock your assets and earn 10%+ APR

Lock now!

- U.S. OCC permits banks to hold crypto (e.g., ETH) for blockchain fees, enabling direct network access and reducing intermediary reliance. - Guidance clarifies crypto can be held as principal for testing platforms and operational costs, aligning with the GENIUS Act's regulatory framework. - Banks must manage crypto risks through robust practices, balancing innovation with capital proportionality and compliance with existing laws. - Critics highlight volatility concerns, while proponents argue it accelerat

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/19 06:46

Ethereum Update: Banks Granted Permission to Store Crypto Assets for Service Charges, Indicating Blockchain’s Entry into Mainstream Finance

Algorand and Noah Combine Financial Institutions, Blockchain Enables Immediate and Regulatory-Compliant International Transactions

- Algorand partners with Noah to merge blockchain and traditional banking, enabling compliant on-chain payments via regulated USD/EUR virtual accounts. - The integration bridges fiat and DeFi systems, allowing real-time settlements while leveraging Noah's VASP/MSB licenses for cross-border compliance. - Projects like HesabPay and Aid Trust Portal demonstrate Algorand's low-cost, instant-finality blockchain for transparent aid and financial inclusion in underserved regions. - Expected 2026 rollout aims to s

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/19 06:46

Algorand and Noah Combine Financial Institutions, Blockchain Enables Immediate and Regulatory-Compliant International Transactions

UAE’s Zand Stablecoin Strengthens Digital Dirham’s Position in the International Fintech Arena

- UAE's Zand Bank launches Zand AED, a dirham-backed stablecoin fully reserved and regulated, becoming the second digital bank in the nation to offer such a product after Mbank's 2024 AE Coin. - The stablecoin's launch coincides with UAE's first government transaction using Digital Dirham CBDC, completed in under two minutes between Ministry of Finance and Dubai Department of Finance. - Zand AED operates under UAE Central Bank's strict regulatory framework requiring 100% high-quality asset backing and real

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/19 06:46

UAE’s Zand Stablecoin Strengthens Digital Dirham’s Position in the International Fintech Arena

Ethereum News Today: Ethereum’s Privacy Pools: Addressing the Compliance Challenges in Cryptocurrency

- Ethereum Foundation integrates Privacy Pools in Kohaku wallet, balancing privacy with compliance via zero-knowledge proofs and ASP monitoring. - EIL (ERC-4337) advances cross-chain interoperability, enabling unified L2 transactions through standardized account abstraction. - Cboe launches regulated ETH/BTC perpetual futures on Dec 15, offering institutional-grade alternatives to offshore contracts with 10-year expirations. - Proton Capital's 22.35% arbitrage returns and BitMine's $840M ETH buy signal gro

Bitget-RWA•2025/11/19 06:32