Cupertino, California-based computing giant Apple has released an update to its App Store Review Guidelines that potentially opens the doors for a change in its long-restrictive policies against bitcoin and other digital currencies.
The release follows Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC 2014), an annual meetup of Apple developers that was expected to bring notable announcements for the company’s customers and wider business community.
The update, made under the document’s ‘purchasing and currencies‘ section, reads:
“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.”
Anti-bitcoin policies
Apple garnered the ire of the wider bitcoin community late last year when the company began abruptly pulling major bitcoin wallet apps — such as Coinbase and Blockchain — from its app store.
The resulting embargo of any apps that allow for the transmission of bitcoins has been widely acknowledged by the bitcoin community as having a negative impact on adoption.
Anti-Apple backlash perhaps hit a tipping point this February, when bitcoin’s fervent reddit community began publicly destroying Apple devices in a video campaign designed to bring awareness to the Apple’s actions.
Creative solutions
Of course, in recent months bitcoin entrepreneurs and developers have simply become more covert in their use of Apple’s own policies in order to bring bitcoin-based services to the platform.
Bity and Cycle of Goodness (CoG) both launched wallets in the wake of Apple’s Blockchain ban to wide enthusiasm in the community, while browser-based wallets provided by Coinbase and Blockchain have provided alternative relief.
Most recently, Pheeva was about to offer its bitcoin wallet to iOS users by registering as a cooperative, meaning prospective users must first enroll in the company’s community online before download.
Uncertainty lingers
While the cause of much enthusiasm from the community, ultimately more guidance may be required to determine whether or not bitcoin itself is an “approved” digital currency.
As a company, Apple is notoriously tight-lipped about future development, and may have an as-yet-unrevealed product which applies to the policy chance.
CoinDesk is still monitoring this developing story.
June 02, 2014 at 09:51PMLatest Bitcoin News | BTC/LTC Robot | Mining ASICS | BTC Debit Card
