In a post from way back last summer, Bitcoin Foundation Director Jon Matonis wrote an article titled Why Apple is Afraid of Bitcoin detailing the demise of the Blockchain.info and BitPak iOS Apps amid legal concerns. BitPak’s iOS App did not recover from that ban wave as the owner went on to other business ventures, Blockchain.info was more fortunate. After repeated inquiries, on April 20th, 2012 Blockchain.info was able to get back in the App Store with an App that only allowed users to view Live Transactions. Since July of 2012, they have had a fully working send/receive Bitcoin wallet App v1.9.8. Today, November 14th, 2013 we can add another major casualty to Apple’s Bitcoin hitlist: Coinbase. Just 23 days ago, Coinbase released on their blog their highly anticipated Coinbase Bitcoin Wallet App. The former link of the Coinbase iOS Appnow redirects to the main iTunes page. Former Bitcoin Apps from the iOS App store’s list of casualties include Bitpak. The reason that Rob Sama, BitPak’s founder, was given by Apple representatives was simply: “Because that Bitcoin thing is not legal in all jurisdictions for which BitPak is for sale”. Back in 2012, Matonis reasoned: “Apple has launched mobile payments on iOS and competing virtual payment systems, including bitcoin, must be terminated.” Apple is obviously still on the same witch hunt from last year. While naysayers in 2012 may have found it hard to believe that something as insignificant as Bitcoin could be on the radar of the great Apple, it is safe to say that higher ups at Apple have heard about Bitcoin in the recent months. A cursory look at the iOS App Store with a search of ‘Bitcoin’ reveals that Coinbase’s iOS App is not the only recent casualty. The ranks have thinned and pretty much only Bitcoin price tickers are left, whether or not the withdrawal of apps was voluntary or forced remains to be seen as news will undoubtedly surface. Resources: bitcoin era app review