In an unforeseen development, the well-known Ethereum wallet, MetaMask, underwent a brief removal from Apple’s App Store on the 14th of October. This abrupt vanishing act of the application, boasting a global user base exceeding 30 million, ignited concerns among its patrons and the broader tech sphere.
MetaMask, celebrated for its effortless integration with an array of Web3 decentralized applications , found itself in a predicament when it was suddenly erased from the App Store’s offerings. This action left Apple patrons in a bind, incapable of procuring the app from the App Store or directly from MetaMask’s official online portal.
The crux of this dilemma, as conjectured by many, is entrenched in Apple’s rigorous service policies. The technology behemoth maintains a firm policy against permitting apps to engage in “unrelated background processes“, a category that encompasses cryptocurrency mining. This guideline has been a source of dispute between Apple and several app developers in the past.
In a communique issued by MetaMask, the firm assuaged its users that the removal was merely a temporary hiccup. “We foresee that MetaMask will be reinstated on the App Store in the near future,” a company representative confirmed, moments before the app was recovered. The representative also implored users to report any fraudulent MetaMask apps surfacing on the App Store.
This incident is not MetaMask’s first encounter with such obstacles. The firm had a similar brush with Google Play’s application store back in December 2019. MetaMusk was put on hold on the basis of purportedly infringing Google’s financial services guidelines, specifically the rule against cryptocurrency mining on mobile gadgets. Despite MetaMask’s plea, Google remained resolute in its decision.
Further complicating matters for crypto enterprises is Apple’s stipulation mandating app developers to surrender 30% of transaction earnings. This “Apple levy” has posed a considerable barrier, especially for companies wishing iOS users to possess the capability to acquire nonfungible tokens.
In summary, the brief disappearance of MetaMask from the App Store serves as a stark wake-up call about the ongoing legal intricacies faced by tech firms in the rapidly transforming landscape of cryptocurrency. As the fallout from this incident settles, it highlights the necessity for a more refined understanding and approach towards the convergence of Big Tech and crypto.
