Apple Removes Bitcoin App 'Blockchain' From App Store

Wednesday February 5, 2014 6:41 PM PST by Husain Sumra
blockchainBlockchain, a wallet app that allows users to send and receive the digital currency Bitcoin, has been removed from the App Store, according to Bloomberg.
Blockchain.info, the developer of the software, received an e-mail from Apple saying that the app was withdrawn "due to an unresolved issue," Nicolas Cary, chief executive officer of the London-based company, said.
Cary told Bloomberg that he didn't understand the timing of the removal of the app, as it has been in the App Store for two years.

Late last year, Apple removed Bitcoin buying and trading platform Coinbase from the App Store and, more recently, Apple required the developers behind Gliph, a secure messaging platform that allowed Bitcoin transfers, to remove the transfer feature in order to keep its app on the App Store.

Blockchain's removal is another chapter in Apple's tumultuous relationship with Bitcoin apps. The company has told developers behind Bitcoin-related apps that they may not include content that "enables, facilitates or encourages an activity" that some countries deem illegal. App Store Review Guidelines require that apps be legal in all locations in which the app is available.
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zorinlynx
61 months ago
This is when the App Store model fails.

Company removes app, not because it can be harmful to the network or system, but because of political issues.

The App Store model works in many ways, but this is the big flaw that really needs to be fixed.
Rating: 21 Votes
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daniel4
61 months ago
This is so silly. This is like removing apps that transfer money like PayPal or Chase because US Dollars may be used to fund or facilitate criminal activity. This has to stop.
Rating: 16 Votes
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jdpruitt
61 months ago
Apple, ya dun goofed.

"Here's to the crazy ones. They change things. They invent. They push the human race forward."

Let Apple know how you feel about this. This is a technology that could transform the world, especially developing nations with high transaction fees.
Rating: 14 Votes
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Amacfa
61 months ago

How terrible of Apple to have to follow the laws of countries where they do business.


As someone who follows bitcoin, there isn't a single country where the currency (or any cryptocurrency) is illegal or outlawed.

Apple is also working on a major payment initiative...
Rating: 10 Votes
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OriginalMacRat
61 months ago

This is when the App Store model fails.

Company removes app, not because it can be harmful to the network or system, but because of political issues.


How terrible of Apple to have to follow the laws of countries where they do business.
Rating: 9 Votes
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gnasher729
61 months ago

The coming months will be when we find out whether Apple is still a company that embraces innovation. Bitcoin represents financial innovation, and that will prove to be disruptive to the status quo. I'm hoping Apple pulls an "iTunes" and revolutionizes payment systems much like the $.99 song did to the music industry.

I don't know what their mobile payment plans are, but they need to seriously address the Bitcoin issue as it is only going to get more and more prevalent.


Bitcoin is a waste of energy. People buy expensive hardware and waste tons of energy to create "bit coins" which have no value except that assigned by the "greater fool" theory. (To remind people: You would be a fool to buy bitcoin, but you hope that a greater fool will come and buy it off you for more money).

Anything to get rid of bitcoin or reduce their usage should be appreciated. Especially a company like Apple that is proud of their green credentials should absolutely do everything to stomp on bitcoin.
Rating: 9 Votes
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ArtOfWarfare
61 months ago

Kinda like how BitTorrent is great for downloading legal stuff. Bitcoins are for criminals to use.


BitTorret is great for downloading legal stuff. Blizzard heavily utilizes BitTorrets for distributing their games, patches, and videos. I wouldn't be remotely surprised if other companies that need to distribute massive files to their customers also use it.

BitCoins are a great international currency that doesn't depend on any laws set by any government. That, actually, may be the part leading to the legal troubles: how do you tax it?
Rating: 9 Votes
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Ms6boost
61 months ago
Good, further distance the masses from Monopoly money.
Rating: 7 Votes
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mcfmullen
61 months ago

Bitcoin has been involved in really shady stuff.


Click me (http://www.psmag.com/navigation/business-economics/digital-currencies-led-biggest-money-laundering-case-ever-bitcoin-74083/)


So is real money. What's your point?
Rating: 7 Votes
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seanjs
61 months ago
My guess is that it has more to do with their policy of not allowing purchases through apps unless those apps use Apple's payment system. Can't buy movies through Amazon Prime or Hulu? Can't buy digital music through Google Play or Amazon MP3? Or Kindle? Yep, this is about Apple wanting a piece of the transaction pie, sadly.
Rating: 7 Votes
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