Damus App must drop bitcoin tipping or face Apple app store removal

In a recent development, Apple has issued a warning to the Damus app, which operates on the Nostr platform, urging it to align with Apple’s guidelines or risk being removed from the app store within a 14-day timeframe.

According to Jack Dorsey, the app store might not understand what this feature is.

Maintaining its presence in the app store

According to Damus’ Twitter post, Apple sent a warning email stating that the app’s version 1.4.3 is not in compliance with review guidelines.

More specifically, the tipping function is called out for allowing users to send “tips” associated with receiving content from digital content creators with a mechanism “other than in-app purchase.”

In a June 13 Tweet, Damus clarified that it does not engage in the sale of digital goods or offer features for selling such goods, but rather provides a tip button to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions similar to Venmo or CashApp.

The potential removal of the Damus app by Apple would render it a “dead platform for bitcoin applications trying to innovate on lightning,” according to Damus. Launched in February, Damus operates on the Nostr platform, which is a decentralized social network protocol supported by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

Dorsey, continues to show support on Twitter sharing, “This seems to be a misunderstanding by Apple. It’s a critical part of the future of the internet.” He then urges Apple’s CEO to reconsider.

Differentiating itself from venture-backed startups, Damus represents an exploration into decentralized social networking rather than a traditional entrepreneurial endeavor.

The app’s core concept revolves around the creation of an open social network that operates without a central authority, enabling users to participate and share content without content decisions being dictated by a centralized entity, such as Facebook or Twitter.

The Damus app was first approved for the app store at the end of January 2023, which industry moguls suggested was a major development for open protocols, and celebrated by both Damus and Dorsey. 

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