Apple doesn’t want you using iOS devices to mine cryptocurrencies

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Apple is making it clear iOS devices are not the place to mine cryptocurrencies. In revised App Store guidelines, the iPhone maker says, “Apps may not mine for cryptocurrencies unless the processing is performed off device,” according to AppleInsider.

The policy continues, “Apps, including any third party advertisements displayed within them, may not run unrelated background processes, such as cryptocurrency mining.”

Because mining for cryptocurrency is CPU-intensive, Apple’s new policy has probably been put into place to protect iOS device batteries from background drain.

The entire policy states:

Apps may facilitate virtual currency storage, provided they are offered by developers enrolled as an organization.” In addition, apps may not mine directly for cryptocurrencies, unless the mining is performed in the cloud or otherwise off-device. Apps may “facilitate transactions or transmissions of cryptocurrency on an approved exchange, provided they are offered by the exchange itself,” although apps facilitating Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”) must originate from “established banks, securities firms, futures commission merchants (“FCM”), or other approved financial institutions.” And finally, cryptocurrency-related apps “may not offer currency for completing tasks, such as downloading other apps, encouraging other users to download, posting to social networks.

Ars Technica rightly explains iPhones aren’t ideally suited for data mining, regardless:

Bitcoin cryptocurrency mining has long been dominated by custom ASIC chips. Some other cryptocurrencies are designed to be ASIC-resistant, but even these are predominantly mined on high-end graphics cards with ample processing power and memory. An iPhone or iPad doesn’t offer very much raw computing power per dollar, so it probably wouldn’t make sense for someone to buy an iPhone or iPad to use as a mining device.

Apple’s new policy was put into place during last week’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) where new versions for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS were introduced.

Do you mine cryptocurrencies? Which equipment do you use? 

In other cryptocurrency news, see: The DOJ is investigating traders over the drastic fluctuation of cryptocurrency values, Cryptocurrency: The future of transactions, and Here’s why people want a taste of the cryptocurrency pie.

Bryan M. Wolfe

Bryan considers himself a well-rounded techie, having written articles for MakeUseOf, KnowTechie, AppAdvice, iDownload Blog. When he's not writing, he's being a single dad and rooting for his alma mater, Penn State, or cheering on the Patriots.