A recent AWS outage caused disruptions to major U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges, prompting discussions about the future of decentralization in the industry. On October 20, 2025, users experienced service interruptions on platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood due to issues with Amazon Web Services (AWS), a dominant provider of cloud infrastructure for cryptocurrencies. While markets saw temporary price fluctuations, concerns over the reliance on centralized systems are intensifying. This incident has sparked calls for more decentralized infrastructure, echoing past outages where reliance on centralized services has been exposed as potentially risky. The outage impacted Coinbase, Robinhood, and Ethereum’s network endpoints, with both exchanges explicitly stating AWS was the cause of the disruption and urging rapid resolution. The aftermath highlights a growing debate about blockchain’s inherent dependence on centralized cloud services, prompting calls for innovation in decentralized infrastructure. While financial impact was minimal as major crypto platforms experienced limited outages, this incident has pushed the industry to consider its reliance on centralized systems. Experts are emphasizing the need for more resilient and decentralized alternatives, with some advocating for a shift towards blockchain-native solutions that avoid overdependence on cloud providers. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges and risks associated with relying solely on centralized services in today’s fast-evolving technological landscape.