Apple bans cryptocurrency mining on its mobile devices

Apple, the technology hardware giant, has banned the mining of cryptocurrencies through certain apps on its mobile devices.

Apple’s App Store continues to offer several cryptocurrency-related apps: Pixabay

The new rule, announced in the latest version of the company’s App Store policies, states: “Apps, including any third party advertisements displayed within them, may not run unrelated background processes, such as cryptocurrency mining.”

App Store

The App Store includes many cryptocurrency-related apps, such as wallets for cryptocurrency storage, links to exchanges, and even apps that offer mining processing that is performed off device.

Apple said: “Apps may not mine directly for cryptocurrencies, unless the mining is performed in the cloud or otherwise off-device.”

Power shortage

Given the amount of power needed for crypto mining, use of an iPad or iPhone would be tremendously uneconomical for such processes. However, Apple is concerned that some apps could be used to mine certain cryptocurrencies in the background.

It remains unlikely any serious mining efforts would ever be able to use mobile devices: bitcoin mining alone used 20,000 gigawatt hours – as much electricity as produced by 92 billion standard solar panels.