A bitcoin app is now back in Apple's App Store after being pulled earlier this year for unknown reasons.
Blockchain officially announced the return of its apps to the App Store, saying although Apple still appears weary of bitcoin-related apps after controversy arose over the online money and payment system, it has made a comeback. And it can be used, reports suggest, to purchase entertainment from iTunes.
"This is a really big deal; when Apple removed the Blockchain wallet over 1,000 news stories ran about Apple banning bitcoin," said Blockchain.info CEO Nicolas Cary. "This seems to be the first strong and real sign they are ready to accommodate future digital currency development. It goes a long way to legitimizing bitcoin and now provides hundreds of millions of iOS users access to bitcoin applications."
The re-emergence of the app will allow iPhone/iPod users to send and receive bitcoins from their devices without workarounds and without being forced to have an Android device for that purpose. It also comes on the heels of Google adding bitcoin to its currency converter, as reported by Tech Times.
In a way, it is a win-win for Apple. By focusing on the respected and more established bitcoin apps, the company can begin to give users more options and functionality with daily monetary needs while not forcing users to pick up another device in order to have access to online funds.
When Apple barred bitcoin apps from entering the App Store, many developers then turned to Google and its Android operating system, which has become the staple of bitcoin-related apps and wallets. That may be one reason Apple pulled back on the ban.
Blockchain has seen its overall user base more than double since the beginning of the year, from around 900,000 to nearly 2 million users, indicating that online virtual money is a resource gaining popularity. More retailers are also accepting bitcoins, including Overstock.com, Tigerdirect.com, Etsy, Reddit, Zynga, PayPal, eBay and OkCupid.
Bitcoin is a digital currency that allows transactions to take place without a central bank. Users create digital wallets to buy, house and transfer the digital currency, working through bitcoin exchanges. The value of a bitcoin has fluctuated since its start in 2008, going from a high around $1,100 to a current value of about $590, down from a value of $625 on July 17.
