Despite offering similar peer-to-peer Bitcoin tipping features as popular platforms like Twitter and Reddit, Damus, the decentralized social media app, is set to face the axe from the Apple app store. Receiving a warning letter from Apple on June 13, the company argued that Damus’ “Zaps” feature, allowing users to tip others in Bitcoin, is in violation of their policy, which prohibits any form of tipping other than in-app purchases.
Damus’ integration of the Lighting Network widget made the Bitcoin payments and tipping possible on the platform, enhancing P2P interactions, similarly to Venmo and Cashapp. As such, the Damus team has declared this issue a watershed moment, likely to affect multiple platforms with P2P support.
While Apple’s main concern stems from its requirement for in-app purchases associated with digital content, the Damus team has sought clarification on this stance, noting that the social media app does not sell any digital goods or offer features for selling digital goods. This distinction prompts the question of whether Damus is truly in violation of Apple’s policy.
Notably, Apple previously approved a Bird game app with Bitcoin tipping in 2015, highlighting a potential inconsistency in the tech giant’s approach to regulating this functionality. The Nostr creator (@Walker on Twitter) argued that the reservation made by Apple against its policies is wrongly placed, as Damus is not selling any digital content and requested that Apple rectify their mistake.
Crypto enthusiasts and proponents alike have questioned Apple’s decision, asking why Twitter’s tipping feature remains unchallenged, while Damus faces removal from the app store. Some critics point towards Apple’s protection of Silicon Valley interests, potentially at the expense of decentralization.
In response, the Damus team is seeking a better understanding of Apple’s stance and is actively working to address these concerns. As this story unfolds, it will likely be an informative case study for other apps that enable Bitcoin tipping and P2P transactions within the broader technology landscape.
Source: Cointelegraph
