Coinbase DApp browser faces App Store axe

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Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) is considering the removal of its decentralized browser application from Apple’s App Store. It cited Apple’s policies as the reason for the removal, with the Coinbase CEO condemning Apple’s stance.

The news was revealed on a Reddit post recently. “In order to comply with App Store policy, we may soon be removing the DApp browser functionality. If you wish to continue using DApps, you can now access most popular DApps on the desktop with Coinbase Wallet by simply scanning a QR code via WalletLink,” part of the notice from Coinbase read.

The news comes just days after Google suspended Ethereum wallet and decentralized browser MetaMask from its Play Store. As CoinGeek reported, Google blamed the suspension on MetaMask’s crypto mining functions which go against its policies. However, as MetaMask has come out to reveal, its app doesn’t support mining.

Now that Apple has apparently joined the anti-DApp camp, it could end up denying DApps access to 97% of the mobile market as the two companies virtually control the entire market.

Brian Armstrong, Coinbase founder and CEO, condemned the ‘unfortunate’ action by Apple in a subsequent Reddit post. The change can only come if the users demand for it, he believes, stating, “If Apple customers want to be able to use Dapps, we may need to make this request know to Apple in some way.”

Armstrong added, “This is an important area of innovation in finance, and many developers and early adopters of this technology have millions of dollars worth of crypto tied up in these financial applications, which they will no longer be able to use on Apple mobile devices if this app store policy continues.”

Apple and Google have been monopolizing the smartphone industry for over a decade, with Google’s Android holding 74%, while Apple’s iOS has 23%. Their anti-DApp stance could stifle the nascent industry even before it has had a chance to stand on its feet.

This isn’t the first time that the tech giants have waged war against crypto and blockchain. YouTube recently took down crypto-related videos, before blaming it on an error and reinstating some of the videos. Previously, Google, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook and Bing have banned crypto ads on their platforms. Some reversed the stand a few months later. And once again, the market reach of these companies is extremely huge. Google and Facebook alone account for over 55% of the digital advertising market, a crucial market for crypto and blockchain entrepreneurs.