Messaging service Wiper has been removed from China’s iOS App Store after it enabled bitcoin payments between users.
Wiper CEO Manlion Carelli confirmed the news, explaining to CoinDesk that the removal was a direct result of its bitcoin integration, which happened earlier this month.
He said:
“We were removed from the iOS App Store in China due to violating that App Store’s policies. Apple explained to us by phone that this violation was related to Wiper enabling bitcoin payments.”
Carelli said that he understood Apple’s position and that he hoped to bring Wiper’s full service to China “as the situation around crypto becomes clear”.
Confusion around bitcoin
The news follows on from Apple’s removal of the Blockchain wallet app from its iOS App Store, which left iPhone and iPad users without a native bitcoin wallet option for their devices last year.
The tech giant later clarified its bitcoin policy and reinstated a number of apps, including Blockchain.
The policy shift resulted in the approval of SaruTobi, a retro-styled iOS game that tips players in real bitcoin, releasing it onto the iTunes store in January.