By Esia Yosupov:
Apple has been known for being aggressive about removing apps from its store which enable bitcoin payments and considered crypto transactions illegal. The removals included Blockchain, a popular Bitcoin wallet app that had apparently been on the store for two years with 120,000 downloads.
However, with the new policy app update, there is a good possibility that Apple will allow transactions in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies using iPhones and iPads.
The update was announced on Monday, where Apple publicized a range of new features and products at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco including OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.
The new App Store Review Guidelines stat that “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.”
Apple didn’t provide any details about its new rule, and did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
“It looks like Apple saw the incoming Bitcoin tsunami and decided that they better be ready for it rather than get washed away,” Bitcoin investor Roger Ver wrote in an email.
For all those Bitcoin enthusiasts, if Apple realized they may stay behind by NOT adopting cryptocurrency that means we are heading in the right direction.
Sources:
- http://www.pcworld.com/article/2358720/has-apple-opened-the-door-to-bitcoin-apps.html
- http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/03/apple-bitcoin-payments-ipad-iphone
