Apple

Steve

<div class="cryptonews"> 
 <p class="is-style-lead">Two United States <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="lawmakers" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/lawmakers.html">lawmakers</a> have written to Apple CEO Tim Cook, raising <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="concern" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/concern.html">concern</a> about how the company’s guidelines may restrict <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a> and NFTs.</p> 
 <p>Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida and his Illinois counterpart Jan Schakowsky, on July 28, jointly sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook expressing concern that Apple’s App Store guidelines could potentially curb the growth of emerging technologies such as blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).&nbsp;</p> 
 <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
  <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> 
   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> 
    <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, I sent a bipartisan letter to @Apple regarding iOS App Store policies and their impact on emerging technologies like blockchains and NFTs. Congress must understand if Apple's policies are limiting innovation and American technological leadership. <br><br>Full letter below: pic.twitter.com/Sda7qtEaql</p>— Gus Bilirakis (@RepGusBilirakis) July 28, 2023 
   </blockquote> 
  </div> 
 </figure> 
 <p>The two lawmakers claim Apple App Store’s policies could affect the country’s leadership status in the technological landscape.</p> 
 <p>The letter posed several questions to Cook, asking for detailed information and documents regarding the App Store’s policies. </p> 
 <p>It also highlighted concerns about Apple’s plans to develop blockchain-based apps. It questioned whether the company is leveraging its app rules to boost revenue at the expense of crypto-related applications.</p> 
 <div class="cn-block-related-link"> 
  <svg class="cn-block-related-link__icon icon" aria-hidden="true"> <use xlink:href="#"></use> 
  </svg> <span class="cn-block-related-link__prefix"> You might also like: </span> US Congress reviews bills, aims to establish crypto framework 
 </div> 
 <p>One of the anti-crypto policies cited in the letter included the requirement for blockchain projects to relinquish 30% of their gas fees to the App Store. </p> 
 <p>In December 2022, Coinbase Wallet claimed that such a requirement was impossible to comply with since Apple’s in-app purchase system did not support crypto.</p> 
 <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
  <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> 
   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> 
    <p lang="en" dir="ltr">You might have noticed you can't send NFTs on Coinbase Wallet iOS anymore. This is because Apple blocked our last app release until we disabled the feature. </p>— Coinbase Wallet ️ (@CoinbaseWallet) December 1, 2022 
   </blockquote> 
  </div> 
 </figure> 
 <p>Bilirakis, a Republican, and Schakowsky, a Democrat, hold ranking positions in the Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee and have emphasized the need for Congress to understand the implications of the App Store guidelines on innovation and tech leadership.</p> 
 <div class="cn-block-related-link"> 
  <svg class="cn-block-related-link__icon icon" aria-hidden="true"> <use xlink:href="#"></use> 
  </svg> <span class="cn-block-related-link__prefix"> You might also like: </span> Apple App Store and Google Play allegedly infested with crypto fraud apps&nbsp; 
 </div> 
 <p>Key figures in the crypto space have welcomed the inquiry. </p> 
 <p>Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, and Kristin Smith, the Chief Executive of the crypto advocacy group Blockchain Association, both publicly praised the initiative by Bilirakis and Schakowsky.</p> 
 <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
  <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> 
   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"> 
    <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s a bipartisan issue that doesn’t require reconceiving the consumer welfare standard and decades of precedent surrounding it. Are Americans well-served by arbitrary applications of a single giant’s App Store policies? https://t.co/8lxW0QP9mh</p>— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) July 28, 2023 
   </blockquote> 
  </div> 
 </figure> 
 <p>Former App Store director Phillip Shoemaker, who crafted the original guidelines with the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, previously stated that they had been rewritten to position Apple as a “gatekeeper” to emerging technologies. </p> 
 <p>He claimed that the rewrite intentionally made Apple’s policies vague while maintaining a harsh stance against crypto and NFTs.</p> 
 <div class="cn-block-related-link"> 
  <svg class="cn-block-related-link__icon icon" aria-hidden="true"> <use xlink:href="#"></use> 
  </svg> <span class="cn-block-related-link__prefix"> You might also like: </span> Damus App must drop bitcoin tipping or face Apple app store removal 
 </div> 
 <p>According to Shoemaker, acceptance into the Apple or Google app stores may make or break a project. Meanwhile, a rejection can have severe consequences for creators.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> 
 <p>The <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="lawmakers" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/lawmakers.html">lawmakers</a> have given Apple a deadline of August 14 to respond to their questions about the App Store’s <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="crypto" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/crypto.html">crypto</a> <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" title="policies" href="https://thebittimes.com/tag/policies.html">policies</a>.</p> 
 <div class="cn-block-related-link"> 
  <svg class="cn-block-related-link__icon icon" aria-hidden="true"> <use xlink:href="#"></use> 
  </svg> <span class="cn-block-related-link__prefix"> Read more: </span> US congressman calls for an end to SEC’s crypto onslaught 
 </div> <span class="google-news-banner__label">Follow Us on Google News</span> 
</div>

US lawmakers raise concerns over Apple’s crypto and NFT policies

TheBitTimes

Other articles published on Aug 1, 2023

A to Z Guide For Exchanging Tokens From a Ledger Wallet

Binance Japan to Launch in August with 34 Token Offerings and BNB Listing!

Is Bitcoin on Slippery Slope? Factors Point to Potential $27,000 Plunge

Alchemy partners with Space ID

Curve Finance DeFi Platform Faces Major Exploit, CRV Tanks 16%

Breaking: Nomura Subsidiary Strikes Gold With Full Crypto License In Dubai

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!