Cryptocurrency exchange service ShapeShift AG has disappeared from Apple’s App Store, with some suggesting the removal may be due to Apple restricting what sort of cryptocurrencies are permitted to be supported by apps in its market.

ShapeShift’s iOS app, launched in June 2015, allowed users to exchange bitcoin for other cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, Litecoin, Namecoin and others, vice versa, or even between obscure digital currencies currently supported by the service, which at last count totaled 34.

The company’s service is unique in that it allows users to trade cryptocurrencies without requiring an account, username, password, or email address in a process called “Shifting” where a user is able to select the desired digital asset or coin, specifying a payout address, then experience the conversion only moments after their deposit is received.

Apple has made no comment on the removal, however, SiliconANGLE can confirm that despite remaining listed in Google search results, the app is then listed as being unavailable by Apple when visiting the app store.

Speculation as to why Apple has removed the app centers around a bizarre ruling from the company that it will only allow apps that support certain cryptocurrencies; news of this “approved list” first emerged in May when an Ether developer was allegedly told that Ether was not an “approved” virtual currency under Apple’s guidelines, and that seemingly the only approved cryptocurrencies were bitcoin, Litecoin and (bizarrely), Dogecoin.

A tweet from Ethereum, Jaxx, & Decentral Founder Anthony Di Iorio September 1 claimed that there was now an official list of supported coins:

Received official word from Apple. Only approved coins on @AppStore – #Bitcoin #Ethereum #Litecoin #Doge #Ripple #TheDAO. Mindboggling.

— Anthony Di Iorio (@diiorioanthony) August 31, 2016

Bizarre

While it’s completely understandable that Apple wants to be careful and not allow scam coins to have their own iOS apps in their store, a service such as Shapeshift takes that liability away from them by allowing users to trade among themselves. After all, there are items listed on Craigslist that are far more dubious in nature than those on Shapeshift, and Apple does not make the decision to apply the ban hammer there.

If you are a cryptocurrency enthusiast there is one simple takeaway from the news: only Android is your friend when it comes to competition and options for trading platforms across the space.

Apple, with its restrictive policies, is no friend to the cryptocurrency community and should be treated not only with disdain but by choosing alternative platforms that support a free market.

Image credit: mark_devries/Flickr/CC by 2.0