Coinbase CEO says App Store policies stifle innovation in cryptocurrency

Brian Armstrong, CEO of digital currency exchange Coinbase, on Friday made an argument that Apple's App Store regulations stifle innovation in the cryptocurrency space.

Detailed in a Twitter thread, Armstrong's assessment of current App Store policy targets Apple's numerous and specific restrictions on digital currency handling.

As it pertains to Coinbase, which markets an iOS app, the rules disallow the company from earning money using cryptocurrency and accessing decentralized finance apps. The latter limitation is of particular interest to the wider cryptocurrency segment, according to Armstrong.

"DeFi and Dapps are a major area of innovation in financial services that has seen rapid growth lately. They let people get access to a global credit market to get a loan or earn interest, for instance," Armstrong said in a tweet. "Dapps or DeFi apps are fundamentally just websites that you can access through any browser. So Apple is essentially saying you can't provide users with a list of websites they can visit through an app."

He goes on to note the potential impact Dapps and DeFi apps have on emerging markets and, more pointedly, underserved communities. The technology can, for example, provide an alternative source of funding and loans in parts of the world where banks are not available or otherwise inaccessible.

For Armstrong, Apple's rules on cryptocurrency smack of anticompetitive strategies Microsoft employed — pushing Windows users to Internet Explorer — more than 20 years ago. Those tactics led to government scrutiny and an antitrust case that initially sought to break up the software monolith.

"Forcing users to use the App Store instead of Dapps (websites), or IAP instead of crypto payments, reminds me of what Microsoft did back in the day (forcing users to use IE if you were on Windows) which led to all their antitrust issues," Armstrongs says.

Armstrong points out that many cryptocurrency apps are missing features because they are being "censored" by Apple.

The Coinbase CEO plans to submit a formal challenge to Apple's App Store guidelines under a new review process the tech giant announced in June.

Today's Twitter thread on App Store cryptocurrency restrictions arrives amid heated debate over Apple's handling of third-party apps. A number of developers have openly criticized the company over its revenue sharing policies. In August, Epic Games filed a private antitrust suit against Apple over App Store fees and restrictions barring third-party app stores, while an ongoing U.S. congressional investigation seeks to determine whether the tech giant breached antitrust laws.

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55 Comments

Beats

said about 3 years ago

They're all just copy-pasting the same response now.

tundraboy

said about 3 years ago

'"Forcing users to use the App Store instead of Dapps (websites), or IAP instead of crypto payments, reminds me of what Microsoft did back in the day (forcing users to use IE if you were on Windows) which led to all their antitrust issues," Armstrongs says. '

No Mr. Armstrong. Windows had a monopoly (okay an overwhelmingly dominant market position) in desk/laptop OSes. iPhone doesn't even have a majority of the smartphone market. Your analogy doesn't apply. Complaining that Apple is a monopoly because it is the sole seller of Apple iPhones is like accusing Audi of monopolizing the market for Audi cars. It's stupid talk.

Besides, why would Apple, or any other private company, want to promote a currency and technology that enables drug dealers, cyber criminals, tax evaders, terrorist organizations and all other sorts of nefarious characters? Why should any private company that is not a monopoly or a public utility be compelled to enter into a line of business that it does not want to be in? Why is it a private company's obligation to promote a technology that it doesn't want to be involved in?

Frankly, cryptocurrencies have not proved their value to society. Even on a conceptual basis no one has made a credible case yet on how you can stop criminals from using it to conduct illegal transactions.

mistergsf

said about 3 years ago

tundraboy said:

'"Forcing users to use the App Store instead of Dapps (websites), or IAP instead of crypto payments, reminds me of what Microsoft did back in the day (forcing users to use IE if you were on Windows) which led to all their antitrust issues," Armstrongs says. '

No Mr. Armstrong. Windows had a monopoly (okay an overwhelmingly dominant market position) in desk/laptop OSes. iPhone doesn't even have a majority of the smartphone market. Your analogy doesn't apply. Complaining that Apple is a monopoly because it is the sole seller of Apple iPhones is like accusing Audi of monopolizing the market for Audi cars. It's stupid talk.

Besides, why would Apple, or any other private company, want to promote a currency and technology that enables drug dealers, cyber criminals, tax evaders, terrorist organizations and all other sorts of nefarious characters? Why should any private company that is not a monopoly or a public utility be compelled to enter into a line of business that it does not want to be in? Why is it a private company's obligation to promote a technology that it doesn't want to be involved in?

Frankly, cryptocurrencies have not proved their value to society. Even on a conceptual basis no one has made a credible case yet on how you can stop criminals from using it to conduct illegal transactions.

I still don't fully comprehend how Bitcoin works let-alone "cryptocurrencies".

SpamSandwich

said about 3 years ago

mistergsf said:

tundraboy said:

'"Forcing users to use the App Store instead of Dapps (websites), or IAP instead of crypto payments, reminds me of what Microsoft did back in the day (forcing users to use IE if you were on Windows) which led to all their antitrust issues," Armstrongs says. '

No Mr. Armstrong. Windows had a monopoly (okay an overwhelmingly dominant market position) in desk/laptop OSes. iPhone doesn't even have a majority of the smartphone market. Your analogy doesn't apply. Complaining that Apple is a monopoly because it is the sole seller of Apple iPhones is like accusing Audi of monopolizing the market for Audi cars. It's stupid talk.

Besides, why would Apple, or any other private company, want to promote a currency and technology that enables drug dealers, cyber criminals, tax evaders, terrorist organizations and all other sorts of nefarious characters? Why should any private company that is not a monopoly or a public utility be compelled to enter into a line of business that it does not want to be in? Why is it a private company's obligation to promote a technology that it doesn't want to be involved in?

Frankly, cryptocurrencies have not proved their value to society. Even on a conceptual basis no one has made a credible case yet on how you can stop criminals from using it to conduct illegal transactions.

I still don't fully comprehend how Bitcoin works let-alone "cryptocurrencies".

Bitcoin is covered by the catch-all phrase “cryptocurrencies”. Not all cryptos are created equal, however. For one to succeed these days it must deliver value to the holder beyond just being a commodity for speculative investment.

There are many educational resources on the web which explain in the broad and fine details what these are and how they differ.

Here are a few:
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/01/02/cryptocurrencies-explained-in-plain-english.aspx

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cryptocurrency.asp

sflocal

said about 3 years ago

AppleInsider said:

"Forcing users to use the App Store instead of Dapps (websites), or IAP instead of crypto payments, reminds me of what Microsoft did back in the day (forcing users to use IE if you were on Windows) which led to all their antitrust issues," Armstrongs says.

Fucking idiot. Microsoft were telling outside computer manufacturers making their own hardware and forcing its will on them.

Apple sells to no one and makes the entire widget so what Apple wants to do on its own hardware and software is no one else's business. If this clown really believes it's the same thing then I would love to sell a bridge to him.

These whiners are really coming out of the woodwork.

What these people are realizing is that the Android model makes them little to no money, so they're going after the closed system with loyal users that actually spend money.

Assholes.