Photo: wired.com
Blockchain, the most popular Bitcoin wallet app, has become the latest casualty of Apple’s apparent crackdown on Bitcoin apps. The app was removed from the App Store yesterday without explanation.
Apple had previously removed BitPak and Coinbase, leaving Blockchain the only remaining Bitcoin wallet app. Blockchain had been in the store since April 2012, and has around 120,000 users, and developer Nicolas Cary is accusing Apple of having an ulterior motive for its removal …
Speaking to Wired, he said: “I think that Apple is positioning itself to take on mobile payments in a way they haven’t described to the public and they’re being anti-competitive.”
The reality is likely to be rather more mundane: with governments and financial authorities unsure of how to respond to the unregulated artificial currency, Apple has most probably decided to play it safe until the legal position is clearer.
Some non-wallet Bitcoin apps remain in the App Store for now, such as ZeroBlock (a simple ticker app for tracking Bitcoin values).
The Android version of the app is still available on the Google Play Store.
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This is why i can’t switch over to IOS.
I want at least a little bit of freedom! I think Bitcoin is great, but not yet ready for mainstream.
Also holy crap I have the same last name as the writer!
>>This is why i can’t switch over to IOS.
Why, because Safari doesn’t do exactly the same thing?
Oh, wait, it does.
Because they take down apps that should be available.
They either took down this app because of “competition” (which it wouldn’t be. at this point only geeks are using BC anyway) or to be the sherrif of apps.
there’s absolutely no harm that can come from allowing this app on ios, yet they still have the need to take it down.
It being do-able on safari has no effect on the argument.
>>should
Not for you to say.
>>They either took down this app because of “competition”
No, sorry, try again.
>>or to be the sherif of apps.
Their store, their rules. Get over it or go to a different platform that lets you play monopoly money.
>>there’s absolutely no harm that can come from allowing this app on iOS
You sure know that, you do, yep, it’s certainly possible for you to know.
“Bitcoin…..unregulated artificial currency”
Ben, you don’t know very much about the US dollar, do you?
Heh – the ‘artificial’ part would indeed cover pretty much all currencies today …
Ben, the preferred nomenclature for Bitcoin is “digital currency”
I think “unregulated, artificial, digital currency” would be a bit of a mouthful. :-)
It’s a lame move – whatever the reason.. Nowhere in the world is bitcoin illegal, so I wonder where you base your “mundane” conclusion on?
Michiel, this gives an overview: http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3952017/2014-010233_Law_Library_of_Congress_Bitcoin_jurisdictional_survey.pdf
We have to remember that most of the BitCoin freaks are also Libertarians, so conspiracy theories are their bread and butter and conservatism their way of life.
freaks a freaks, but even libertarians should know bitcoins are preferable payment method for drugs and stolen credit cards these days. that is your price for this freedom, feeding crime
Sounds a lot like Apple
can we still use the app if we have it already? or should i not?
You should be able to use it, but won’t be able to update.
Keep calling Bincoin a currency as you want it to be. Still, it flies and quacks as a commodity. But anyhow, it is a nice, very high-tech, quite rebelleous and infamous sham. Crack on bintcins is only hitting up
I agree With you Ben. You hit the nail on the head a few times not only in your article but also in your comments.
All Currencies are artificial instruments of hypnotism. Apple is definitely playing it safe in a legal grey zone regarding Bitcoin. Any attempt at taking away the power of controlling the flow of commerce from the conventional banking institutions is always met with stiff resistance. The Banks and governments face power instability and thus seek to destroy anyone who helps destroy them. The people are awake and now taking actions to dismantle the system that has for so long imprisoned them through wage slavery and from-birth Hypnotism and conditioning. Hypnotism through television shows and movies has taught people perceived social norms. When you combine the spiritual brainwashing such as major religions that teach hate as a mantra and the compulsory school systems hammering stress conditioning and a slew of irrelevant information into the minds of young beings you then have a slave system that molds people into being a prefabricated character dreamt up by social designers. People often perceive them selves to be free and individualistic beings while not questioning the teachings of information that made them think the very thoughts they have about the observations they make of the human life. Don’t forget the hate portion of the system, all institutions whom use physical force and intimidation to force seemingly “free people” to do as they say. People are aware now of this conditioning and are seeking alternative information to break from the programming. What People consider free is far from what the governments idea of how they want you the citizen to live as a citizen under their command.
The revolution is at hand and “They” Know it. They will try and use force and it will backfire on them. They believe they have thought of every contingency, not releasing that they can’t see what they cannot detect. The Plan will not stop from unfolding, there is nothing they can do. This is evolution. This is freedom manifesting as an energy that is growing in amplitude with each passing day. There is not a thing that can be done to stop what the universe has in its evolutionary timeline. It’s beautiful and should bring a light of happiness to every living organism here on earth, outward and beyond.