The Damus Social Media Application Will Be Removed From The Apple App Store Because Of The Bitcoin Tip Giving Feature.

Damus founders have responded to Apple's threat (photo: twitter @damusapp)

On June 13, Damus creators shared a warning letter from Apple stating that the app would be removed from the platform due to the "Zaps" feature that allows users to tip users and content creators in Bitcoin form. This feature is made possible by integrating the Lighting Network widget for payments and Bitcoin tips on the platform.

In its warning, Apple stated that the Zaps feature violated its policy which prohibits any form of tip-giving feature other than in-app purchases. The tech company stated that although the tip-giving feature is optional, "if they [users] are connected or related to receiving digital content, they should use the in-app purchase according to the 3.1.1 guide."

Tim Damus menyebutnya sebagai momen penting dengan implikasi besar bagi platform dengan dukungan peer-to-peer (P2P). Tim tersebut juga menjelaskan bahwa Damus tidak menjual barang digital atau menyediakan fitur untuk menjual barang digital. Aplikasi ini hanya memiliki tombol tip untuk memfasilitasi transaksi P2P seperti Venmo atau Cash App.

Bitcoin and crypto tips have become popular on social media platforms, with Twitter and Reddit enabling the feature. Crypto tip-giving features allow P2P transactions that do not require intermediaries to be processed. Apple itself has approved the "Game of Birds" app with the Bitcoin tip-giving feature in 2015.

One of the creators of Nostr, who goes by Walker's name on Twitter, highlighted that Apple's problems with Zaps were wrongly placed because Damus didn't sell any digital content, and the creator asked Apple to correct his mistakes.

Many other crypto advocates also questioned why Twitter's tip was accepted, but the same feature in Damus violated Apple's policies. Others accuse Apple of protecting Silicon Valley's interests.