Apple kills off last Bitcoin wallet app in App Store - CNET
Blockchain claims that Apple offered "no explanation and no opportunity to address any issues" with the program or Bitcoin wallets.
Apple doesn't appear to be all that fond of Bitcoin.
The company on Wednesday removed from its App Store the last remaining Bitcoin wallet application, Blockchain. The app allowed Bitcoin owners to store the digital currency and use it for purchases where possible. It was the last of a series of Bitcoin wallet apps Apple has nixed.
In a blog post on Thursday, Blockchain confirmed the news, saying that it was offered "no explanation and no opportunity to address any issues."
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"These actions by Apple once again demonstrate the anti-competitive and capricious nature of the App Store policies that are clearly focused on preserving Apple's monopoly on payments rather than based on any consideration of the needs and desires of their users," Blockchain said in a blog post on Thursday.
For its part, Apple hasn't said publicly exactly why it's killed off the Blockchain application. Some blogs have speculated that it might be a precursor to Apple launching its own digital wallet service to compete with Google Wallet and others, but the company has not confirmed that's the case.
Blockchain was somewhat popular among Bitcoin users, attracting 120,000 downloads over two years in Apple's App Store. The company claims that the takedown, viewed in the context of the app's longevity and popularity, "is historic and unprecedented."
CNET has contacted Apple for comment. We will update this story when we have more information.
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