Apple rejected the latest version of the non-custodial Bitcoin wallet, Zeus stating that the app was not submitted by a corresponding exchange or a recognized institution. The news came to light a day after the tech giant warned about delisting Damus, a Bitcoin-related app.
Apple Rejects the Latest Version of Bitcoin Wallet Zeus
According to a tweet from Zeus founder Evan Kaloudis on June 14, 2023, Apple rejected the Lightening Network-enabled Bitcoin wallet Zeus. This is mainly because the app facilitates the transmission of a virtual currency without being submitted by a recognized financial institution.
The tech giant also asked the app to provide the necessary licenses and permissions for facilitating cryptocurrency exchange features. This would apply to all the locations where the Zeus app is currently available.
Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino stated in another tweet, “Being non-custodial should be easy to push back inside since the is just a software interface.” The fact that the Zeus app is a software interface as it is a non-custodial wallet unlike centralized crypto exchanges cannot be denied. In addition, another non-custodial wallet Breez also agreed with it tweeting that non-custodial wallets should be approved.
When asked about the updates on this issue, the founder mentioned that they had resubmitted the request by adding relevant notes. The app is trying to get approval because it facilitates payments through its non-custodial wallet. However, the previous version of the Zeus app is still accessible in the Apple App Store.
Apple Could Remove the Damus App for its Bitcoin Tip Feature
Apple could delist Damus, a decentralized social media app because of its “Zaps”, a Bitcoin tipping feature. The feature allows people to tip users and content creators on the platform with Bitcoin. This feature integrates the Bitcoin Lightening Network to make Bitcoin transactions faster and cheaper.
Apple mentioned that the Zaps feature violated its policy by allowing Bitcoin tip payments. It further stated that users should use the in-app purchases feature under its guideline 3.1.1 if they would like to interact with digital content.
The team Damus called this a watershed moment with possible implications for the future peer-to-peer payment transaction supporting platforms. Based on their tweet, the Zaps feature could be removed in the next 2 weeks. However, the fact that Apple approved the Game of Birds app with Bitcoin tips in 2015 is noteworthy.
Meanwhile, Damus core developer William Casarin believes that Zaps is not violating any guidelines. He further affirmed that they are going to resubmit the tipping feature in the future.
