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Apple has updated its App Store review guidelines to allow for "approved" virtual currencies in apps, paving the way for new types of currencies to be traded and maintained on iOS devices, reports Reuters.
11.17 Apps may facilitate transmission of approved virtual currencies provided that they do so in compliance with all state and federal laws for the territories in which the app functions.
The move is interesting given Apple's past tendencies to remove and deny apps that promote virtual currencies, namely those having to do with the popular Bitcoin currency. Last year, Apple notably required the developers behind private messaging app Gliph to remove the app's Bitcoin sending capabilities, or face deletion from the App Store.
Apple's actions on Gliph also shed light on the company's overall relationship with Bitcoin apps. It was reported that Apple had told a number of developers behind Bitcoin-related apps that their apps contained content "that is not legal in all the locations in which the app is available," and were non-compliant with Apple's policies.
However, with Apple's new App Store guidelines on the matter, it is now possible that apps like Gliph could indefinitely allow for virtual currencies like Bitcoin to be traded. While it is ultimately up to Apple as what is allowed in its apps, the company's updated policy marks a completely new position on the issue of virtual currencies.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Insane. Bitcoin is backed by nothing.
Well it's not like any other FIAT currency is backed by gold either.
Been on the btc bandwagon for 1.5years now and was not happy with Apple's anti-bitcoin stance. Blockchain-app has been doing ok for my irl-purchases, but with this I expect some nice features in future apps. Will be interesting to see how it ends up, Apple has to know that bitcoin might eat some of their 30% markup, but being left out might suck even more...
There was never an anti-bitcoin stance, you've just been to r/bitcoin too much.
Insane. Bitcoin is backed by nothing.
It's backed by something
Trust. No serious banker trusts Bitcoin.
Trust. No serious people trust bankers.
There should be some funny names for currencies soon
It'll be a good day when we can buy apps with Dogecoin :cool:
Trust. No serious banker trusts Bitcoin.
No serious person trusts a banker.