The above post/comment aside, Brave has never just cut off connections. Notifications have always been made here, such as the longer one as the recent Topic at [Action required] Changes to being a verified creator: connect a custodial account which has also been shared elsewhere, such as on Reddit.
You’ll notice that it cut you off from being a Verified Creator but it didn’t say you wouldn’t receive BAT already in your account. As long as you had been Verified, then you’d receive your BAT. If you had chosen not to Verify, then you’d also need to refer back to Terms which state:
- (c) register for a Publisher Account in accordance with Section 3, which requires you to create an ERC20-compatible Ethereum wallet address (“Publisher Wallet”) with one of the third-party wallet providers approved by Brave (a “Custodian”), and complete all required verification steps with the Custodian, and
- (d) maintain your Publisher Wallet in good standing with the Custodian.
Therefore, if you hadn’t been connected to a custodial account, then you’d not have been meeting those terms and your inability to withdraw BAT would be on you.
Restrictions on available countries have always referenced to new connections or those who become disconnected after the decision. In many cases, everyone has remained connected even months after support was withdrawn. So it’s not like they just cut you off out of nowhere and “stole” your money.