Bitcoin Lightning App Disappears from Apple and Google Stores in US
A popular Bitcoin Lightning payments app, Wallet of Satoshi (WoS), has mysteriously vanished from both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in the United States. This comes at a time when the app is on track to process over 1 million transactions for the month of November.
Disappearance and Reactions from Users
On November 24, numerous users and members of the cryptocurrency community took to Twitter to express their confusion and frustration as they were unable to find the WoS app in the app stores. Instead, some users reported being redirected to competing wallet apps.
“Wallet of Satoshi banned in the US? pic.twitter.com/S44qN5UI2U”
— ck (@ck_SNARKs) November 23, 2023
Interestingly, the WoS app was still available for download on the Australian Apple App Store, as well as the Australian and Singapore versions of the Google Play Store.
Industry Impact and Responses
Wallet of Satoshi is a well-known Lightning payments platform, and as of the current course, it is expected to process over 1.1 million Lightning payments during November. Industry author and podcaster Kevin Rooke commented on this milestone, stating that it would mark the company’s largest month of Lightning payments to date.
“Wallet of Satoshi is on pace to process over 1.1 million Lightning payments in November. This will be their largest month of Lightning payments ever. ⚡️”
— Kevin Rooke (@kerooke) November 22, 2023
Apple and Wallet of Satoshi have not provided any immediate responses or clarifications regarding the disappearance of the app from the US app stores.
Apple’s History with Crypto Apps
This is not the first time Apple has been associated with the removal of cryptocurrency-related apps. The company’s strict control over in-app payments, along with a significant 30% tax, has been a longstanding barrier for crypto platforms seeking a presence in the App Store. In the past, Apple has delisted other crypto apps, such as the Damus app and the MetaMask wallet app, over similar concerns.
Furthermore, Apple’s actions have prompted legal action in the past. Earlier in November, a group of PayPal Venmo and Block Cash App users filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging anti-competitive agreements that restrict the use of crypto technology on iOS.
As the disappearance of Wallet of Satoshi from the US app stores remains unexplained, the cryptocurrency community eagerly awaits further developments and responses from the involved parties.
I have been writing about crypto for over two years. I have a vast amount of experience in the industry and my work has been featured on some of the biggest publications in the space.
