Satoshi Wallet will be removed from Apple and Google’s US app stores

Bitcoin (BTC) lightning payment app Wallet of Satoshi (WoS) has been removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store after more than 1 million transactions were blocked in the US.

In the year On November 24, a number of users and crypto community participants shared on X (Twitter) their attempts to find a WoS app, which either yielded no results or redirected users to competing wallet apps.

Has Satoshi Wallet been banned in the US? pic.twitter.com/S44qN5UI2U

— ck (@ck_SNARKs) November 23, 2023

However, the WoS app still appeared for download on the Australian Apple App Store and the Australian and Singapore versions of the Google Play Store as of this writing.

Satoshi Wallet is a popular lightning payment platform on pace to process more than 1.1 million lightning payments in November, according to industry author and podcaster Kevin Rook.

The Satoshi Wallet is on pace to process over 1.1 million Lightning payments in November.

This is going to be their biggest month of lightning payments.

⚡️ pic.twitter.com/oCxIce7kit

— Kevin Rook (@kerooke) November 22, 2023

Rook added that it will be the company's “fastest payday month ever.”

But Satoshi Wallet cleared up the confusion after a post by X (formerly Twitter) clarified that it would not be banned from app stores. “We have made the difficult decision to remove our app from the US Apple and Google App Stores, and will no longer serve US customers,” it read.

To our dear Satoshi community in the United States of America,

We are dedicated to providing the best Bitcoin experience with Satoshi Wallet by being at the forefront of lightning usability and adoption. However, we have made the difficult decision to remove…

— Satoshi Wallet (@walletofsatoshi) November 24, 2023

The post did not clarify the reasons for the sudden termination of services in the US, although it hinted at a possible restart based on “future developments”. Existing users in the US will have full custody of their BTC funds and the ability to transfer their tokens to other wallets.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

Related: Bitcoin demand could grow up to 10x in 12 months: Michael Saylor

Apple imposes a hefty 30% tax on in-app payments, which it strictly controls and has been a hindrance to crypto platforms seeking to have an App Store presence.

In the year On November 17, disgruntled users of PayPal's Venmo and Block Cash apps filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company entered into anti-competitive agreements with PayPal and Block to limit the use of crypto technology and payments on iOS. .

Apple has a history of removing crypto apps, with the company canceling the Nostr-based Damus app for Bitcoin tips in June. It also briefly pulled the MetaMask wallet app from the App Store in October.

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