WWDC 14 Update: Apple Allows 'Approved' Virtual Currencies in Apps

Jun 03, 2014 04:32 PM EDT | Matt Mercuro

Apple has announced that it will let software developers include virtual currency transactions in their apps, possibly paving the way for new forms of money to show up on iPads, iPhones and other Apple devices.

The decision was made the same week as Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California.

"Apps may facilitate transmission of approved virtual currencies provided that they do so in compliance with all state and federal laws for the territories in which the app functions," Apple said in an update to its App Store review guidelines.

The company has not commented publicly regarding the decision yet. It has also not released a list of which virtual currencies it considers to be "approved."

Virtual currencies are currently not backed by any government or central bank. They are bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control.

A number of U.S. state regulators have been looking to toughen rules on the use of virtual currency, and have warned investors to consider the risks that comes with virtual currencies before trading in them, according to Reuters.

Mt. Gox, once the biggest bitcoin exchange, stopped trading in February after its faulty computer system was hacked, costing the company nearly half a billion dollars worth of the virtual coins.

TV operator Dish Network announced last week that it would start accepting bitcoin payments from customers starting in the third quarter.

Dish's third quarter begins on July 1.

The company selected Coinbase as the payment processor for bitcoin transitions, according to Reuters.

Other companies to accept virtual currency includes Zynga Inc. and Overstock.com.

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