Apple Won’t Allow Cryptocurrency Mining On iPhone

App developers looking to tap into the cryptocurrency trend take notice. Apple has updated its App Store review guidelines to lay down the law: it’s not going to allow cryptocurrency mining on iPhone and iPad. These new guidelines were released by the company during its Worldwide Developers’ Conference for apps that are distributed through the App Store, which is the only way developers can deliver apps for the platform since iOS doesn’t allow sideloading of apps.

The updated App Store review guidelines make it clear under the Hardware Compatibility section that any and all apps “including any third party advertisements displayed within them, may not run unrelated background processes, such as cryptocurrency mining.”

It clarifies in a section related to cryptocurrencies that while apps may facilitate the storage of digital currencies, they have to be offered by developers that are enrolled as an organization. Apps can’t mine directly for cryptocurrencies unless the mining is performed in the cloud or otherwise off-device.

Apple won’t allow the resources of its mobile devices to be used for mining digital currency. It has also mandated that all cryptocurrency-related apps may not offer digital currency to users for completing tasks such as downloading other apps, encouraging other users to download apps, and posting to social networks.

Adnan Farooqui
Categories: Apple
Tags: App Store, Apps