Tech giant Apple has been selective in its approach to cryptocurrencies on the App Store, but on September 12, 2016, the Cupertino-based company granted approval for three more altcoins: Lisk, Steem, and Digicash. The news was revealed by Anthony Di Iorio, CEO of the multi-currency wallet Jaxx, following detailed discussions with Apple. This brings the total number of cryptocurrencies officially permitted in iOS apps to nine, including previously approved Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, The DAO, and Ripple.
Background and Initial Approval List
Until last week, only six digital currencies were acknowledged by Apple’s App Store guidelines. The initial list—Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, The DAO, and Ripple—was confirmed by Di Iorio after earlier talks with Apple. The addition of Lisk, Steem, and Digicash marks a significant expansion of Apple's digital asset ecosystem, though the company remains opaque about its selection criteria.
Di Iorio stated: “On Monday we learned that Apple permits apps using nine specific digital currencies, critical information to the crypto community. At Jaxx, we’ve been committed to supporting a global blockchain ecosystem. The insight we have gleaned from Apple thus far has been invaluable.”
Notably, Apple’s approval list includes The DAO token, which was already experiencing technical turmoil at the time. This decision puzzled many in the community, especially the Dash community, which questioned why Apple allowed a now-defunct project while excluding Dash, a well-established cryptocurrency with an active development team.
Jaxx Wallet and Platform Differences
The Jaxx team confirmed that while iOS users can now access Lisk, Steem, and Digicash through the app, Dash and Ethereum Classic remain unsupported on Apple’s platform. However, users of Android devices, Google Chrome, and Firefox extensions can still manage these tokens via Jaxx. Since its launch in June 2016, Jaxx has grown to serve over 40,000 users, positioning itself as a preferred wallet for multi-chain enthusiasts.
The exclusion of Dash has sparked criticism. A parody video from the YouTube show “Dash Detailed” mocked Apple’s decision-making process, highlighting the irony of allowing a token that later collapsed (The DAO) while rejecting a live, actively developed project (Dash).
Apple’s Shifting Stance on Crypto Apps
Apple has historically maintained a cautious but evolving stance toward cryptocurrencies. The company recently allowed integration of Circle’s Bitcoin wallet into the iOS 10 iMessage platform, a move widely praised by the Bitcoin community. However, the same week, Apple removed the popular Shapeshift app from the App Store without public explanation, leaving users to access the service via mobile web browsers.
These contradictory actions create uncertainty for developers and wallet providers. Jaxx and other third-party platforms remain eager to understand Apple’s full policy framework. As the crypto landscape evolves, the community waits for Apple to clarify its criteria for approval and removal—especially with new blockchain projects emerging rapidly.
At this point, it is unclear whether Apple will continue expanding its list of supported cryptocurrencies or impose further restrictions. The inclusion of Lisk, Steem, and Digicash suggests a gradual opening, but the exclusion of Dash and Ethereum Classic indicates that the company’s standards remain stringent and possibly arbitrary.