“Wallet of Satoshi disappears from US app stores of Apple and Google”
**Wallet of Satoshi App Disappears from US App Stores**
**Users and Crypto Community Concerned**
Bitcoin (BTC) Lightning payments app Wallet of Satoshi (WoS) has mysteriously vanished from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the United States, causing concern among users and the crypto community. The disappearance comes at a time when the app is close to processing over 1 million transactions for November.
**App Inaccessible to US Users**
On November 24, users and crypto enthusiasts took to social media to report their unsuccessful attempts to find the WoS app on the App Store and Play Store, with searches yielding no results or redirecting users to other wallet apps. A tweet from a concerned user went viral, raising questions about the sudden disappearance of Wallet of Satoshi from the US app stores.
**App Still Available in Other Countries**
Surprisingly, at the time of reporting, the WoS app was still available for download on the Australian Apple App Store and the Australian and Singapore Google Play Store versions, adding to the mystery surrounding its removal from the US stores.
**Rising Popularity and Transaction Volume**
Wallet of Satoshi, known for its popularity as a Lightning payments platform, is on track to process over 1.1 million Lightning payments in November, marking its largest month of Lightning payments ever. This milestone was highlighted by industry author and podcaster Kevin Rooke, who expressed surprise at the sudden disappearance of the app from the US stores.
**Apple’s 30% Tax and Crypto Restrictions**
It is worth noting that Apple imposes a significant 30% tax on in-app payments and tightly controls its App Store, creating barriers for crypto platforms seeking a presence on the platform. This has led to disputes and legal actions, with a recent class-action lawsuit against Apple by disgruntled PayPal Venmo and Block Cash App users alleging anti-competitive agreements that restrict the use of crypto technology on iOS.
**History of Removing Crypto Apps**
Apple has a history of removing crypto apps from its App Store, with previous instances including the delisting of the Nostr-based Damus app and the temporary removal of the MetaMask wallet app. The company’s actions have sparked debates and discussions about the role of tech giants in controlling the accessibility of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related applications.
**Awaiting Official Responses**
As of now, neither Apple nor Wallet of Satoshi has provided an official explanation for the app’s removal from the US app stores, leaving users and the crypto community speculating about the reasons behind this sudden disappearance.
As the situation unfolds, it raises important questions about the influence of tech companies on the adoption and accessibility of cryptocurrencies and the challenges faced by crypto platforms in navigating the complex landscape of app store regulations and policies.
I have over 10 years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and I have been on the list of the top authors on LinkedIn for the past 5 years. I have a wealth of knowledge to share with my readers, and my goal is to help them navigate the ever-changing world of cryptocurrencies.
