Apple's Tumultuous Relationship With Bitcoin Apps

Over the past several years, Apple has removed, denied, or otherwise prevented a number of Bitcoin-related apps from being available to users on the App Store. Most recently, the company required the developers behind Gliph -- a secure messaging app that also allowed users to transfer bitcoin from one Gliph user to another -- to remove the bitcoin sending feature from its app.

The company has told a number of developers behind Bitcoin-related apps that their apps contain content -- or facilitate, enable, or encourage an activity -- "that is not legal in all the locations in which the app is available, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines."

Bitcoin is a virtual currency, not issued by any government, that can be transferred electronically from one wallet -- basically a special computer file -- to another. The value of the currency is incredibly volatile, with its USD exchange rate going from under $400 to more than $1200 in the past month. At one point, the price of a single bitcoin moved from $1155 to $576 in a few hours. Bitcoins are currently available for around $900 on the Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange.

Bitcoin Chart
The concept of a private, virtual currency is a foreign one for governments that can have difficulty staying in the same decade as quickly emerging technologies. Both domestic and international governments are struggling with the currency and how to regulate it. China has banned financial institutions from handling bitcoin transactions, though person-to-person transactions are still allowed.

The U.S. Government has taken a slightly more positive view of bitcoin, however. The U.S. Department of Justice said in a Senate hearing that bitcoins can be "legal means of exchange" and that bitcoin is not "in and of [itself], illegal".

Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts said in a research report that bitcoin could eventually become a "major means of payment for commerce" and a "serious competitor to traditional money transfer providers". However, federal anti-money laundering and terrorism financing statutes would appear to conflict with the fast-paced development that has pushed bitcoin growth thus far.

While bitcoin use and ownership is not de jure illegal, it nonetheless exists in a legal gray area that could potentially affect users at some point. Gliph, the app mentioned earlier, did not even transfer bitcoin directly. Instead, it used API calls to attach a bitcoin wallet from a third-party company to the app. This allowed Gliph users to transfer bitcoin to one another, similar to how an app developer might use PayPal's API to facilitate checkout and credit card payments in their apps. However, this is the functionality that Apple had the developers remove before it would allow Gliph back on the App Store.

For the most part, Apple has declined to explain how a bitcoin-transferring or -trading app could be approved, nor in what countries the bitcoin functionality might not be allowed. It merely refers to section 22.1 of the App Store review guidelines which states that it is the "developer's obligation to understand and conform to all local laws". The company appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach, both protecting itself and -- perhaps more importantly to the company -- protecting its users. An Apple spokesperson did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

The Gliph blog has one possible theory for Apple's apparent disinclination towards Bitcoin apps:

Among other possible reasons, we wonder if Apple simply doesn’t want to police useful Bitcoin apps in the App Store because they perceive the legal ambiguity of the currency as more trouble than it is worth. Bitcoin is still in an early-adopter phase and probably the majority of Apple’s customers are unaware the currency exists and not looking for these types of apps anyway. Better to avoid this type of software for now, and take the option to change their mind in the future.

Earlier this year, Apple removed the app for the bitcoin buying and trading platform Coinbase from its store. The story is similar for Blockchain.info, Bitpak, and Bitcoin Express -- all Bitcoin-related apps that were either removed or rejected from the App Store. The Gliph blog has more details on the various apps. Most of them received rejection language similar to section 22.1.

There are still Bitcoin-related apps on the App Store, however most do not provide the ability to purchase, sell or transfer bitcoins. As a result, some exchanges -- including Mt. Gox, one of the largest -- have instead chosen to develop mobile websites for wallet-holders rather than dedicated apps. Google has taken a more hands-off approach, largely allowing Bitcoin apps to remain on its Google Play store.

As bitcoin becomes more widely accepted -- and regulated -- by Governments and large financial institutions alike Apple may become more accepting, but in the meantime, the company seems to have made its position clear.

Gliph is a free download on the App Store, however its bitcoin functionality is limited to viewing bitcoin wallets, with no transfer capabilities. Its secure messaging and cloaked email capabilities remain intact. [Direct Link]

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...

Top Rated Comments

osx11 Avatar
151 months ago
Am I the only one who still doesn't totally understand this bitcoin thing?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LucasLand Avatar
151 months ago
american dollars are also used to buy guns, drugs, porn, hookers, best healthcare for politicians, A-Rod's 300 million contract.

people have their cash stolen too, by con artists, street thugs, churches, IRS, charities and by deadbeat relatives

if someone placed malware on your mac and it stole your coins, then the problem is with that thief and malware.


Lets get rid of the Dollar too
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kds1 Avatar
151 months ago
You've got it completely backwards. It's the U.S. government that relies on people to do business with it, not the other way around. No need to pay taxes when the government can't enforce them due to having no access to your bitcoin accounts. Once the government loses the ability to steal money from people via taxation and printing more fiat currency (thus devaluing all existing currency), it loses all political power and people's natural rights will be restored from the grip of violent government aggression.

You're a real nutter, aren't you?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Pyrrhic Victory Avatar
151 months ago
I can't wait until bitcoin becomes a mainstream currency and destroys the rigged fiat currency that the Fed prints, steals, taxes, wastes, gives to the megarich and the prideless beggars and siphons off from everyone else. The influence of political machines on Americans' lives depends on monopolizing their currency and once bitcoin and other competing digital currencies make the dollar irrelevant it will bring this corrupt crony capitalist colossus to its knees. I'm not going to name drop because it realy doesn't matter between Democrats and Republicans, they pretend to be sworn enemies but in reality they're just colluding with each other to hoard as much political power and influence as they can between them. The proof is that they do everything possible to shut out every other candidate from the debates and even the ballot so they can protect and manipulate their political cartel in perpetuity.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jtara Avatar
151 months ago
We've yet to be impacted by the major negative aspect of Bitcoin. Unnecessary and increasing use of electrical power.

By design, creation of new Bitcoin is limited by the cost of electricity. ("mining cost"). It is just a move back to the "gold standard", except now the gold is electrical power.

It takes an ever-increasing amount of computing power to mine bitcoin. This is by design. It is no longer practical to mine bitcoin using desktop computers in most localities (at least not if you are paying for the electricity), because the electricity will cost more than the value of the bitcoin mined. And, so, miners have had special ASIC circuits created that can mine more efficiently.

Ultimately, though, they will bump-up against the cost of electricity again, and then need some more boost to efficiency. Maybe we can generate electricity more efficiently. Might be good for society, as it might drive-down the cost of electrical production, and drive up the efficiency of computation.

But it does ultimately mean that we will use more and more electricity to produce - what? To produce tokens of value. But, to me, that electricity is completely wasted. We would be using the electricity to produce tokens of value - not value itself.

BTW, this is not lost on the dark side of the Internet. People are stealing your electricity right now. There's plenty of malware that uses your computer to mine bitcoin. One of the latest trends is Javascript mining. It's very inefficient, but (to the miner) the electricity is free.

Gold, at least, has other useful purposes it can be used for. If you no longer need a gold coin as a store of value, you can turn it into a piece of jewelry, some electrical contact plating, or a tooth filling. Electrical power, once consumed to mine bitcoin, is exhausted and cannot be "reused".

I suppose the solution to the madness would be eventually the government orders mining operations to be halted and sends in troops to shut-down the miners, thus making electrical production available for useful purposes.

Wow, what a great Science Fiction scenario...


Energy Consumption
Energy consumption for mining has a high correlation with bitcoin value (exchange rate). Because variable costs of mining are dominated by electricity price, the economic equilibrium for the mining rate is reached when global electricity costs for mining approximate the value of mining reward plus transaction fees.
So the higher the value of one bitcoin, the higher the value of mining rewards and transaction fees, the higher the energy consumption of the bitcoin network in the long run.
more efficient mining gear does not reduce energy use of the bitcoin network. It will only raise the network difficulty
cheaper energy linearly increases mining energy use of the bitcoin network
the same conclusions apply to all proof of work based currencies (i.e. Litecoin).
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Weaknesses
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbfc Avatar
151 months ago
Am I the only one who still doesn't totally understand this bitcoin thing?

I haven't a clue what it is.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)