Apple and Google Stores in US Drop Wallet of Satoshi App

Popular Bitcoin Lightning payment app Wallet of Satoshi (WoS) was recently withdrawn from both the US Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This happened as WoS was nearing a milestone of one million transactions in November. Users and crypto enthusiasts expressed their dismay on X (formerly known as Twitter), noting the app’s absence and redirection to alternative crypto wallet platforms.

Despite its disappearance in the US, WoS remains accessible in Australia and Singapore on both Apple and Google platforms. Kevin Rooke, a notable figure in the crypto industry, highlighted that November was set to be a record month for Lightning payments for the company.

Addressing the confusion, Wallet of Satoshi clarified through an X post that they voluntarily removed the app from the US stores and would no longer serve US customers. The statement, however, did not specify the reasons behind this decision. It hinted at a possible resumption of services in the US, dependent on future developments. US-based users still have full access to their BTC funds and can transfer them to other wallets.

This event coincides with ongoing tensions between Apple and the cryptocurrency community. Apple’s policy of imposing a 30% tax on in-app payments has been a point of contention, particularly for crypto platforms seeking a presence in the App Store. Adding to the unrest, a group of disgruntled customers from Block Cash App and PayPal Venmo filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple on November 17. They accused the tech giant of engaging in anti-competitive agreements with PayPal and Block Cash, aimed at restricting crypto payments and technology on iOS devices.

Apple removing crypto apps from its store is not something new. Back in 2014 in Bitcoin’s early days, it had removed the Blockchain App, with the team behind Blockchain stating that Apple are overly aggressive with future competitors.