Apple Approves Steem, Lisk and Digicash for App Store; Rejects Ethereum Classic

The announcement follows Apple's decision to reject an earlier version of the Jaxx wallet software due to its attempted inclusion of Dash and Ethereum Classic. Decentral, a Canadian startup, unveiled Jaxx in June 2016, and the application has quickly become a favored tool for managing digital currency holdings. Anthony Di Iorio serves as the company's chief executive. In a statement, Di Iorio shared: "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. [...] To that end, the insight we have gleaned from Apple thus far has been invaluable and we hope to learn more about Apple's policies and procedures for blockchain in the near future."

The approvals granted to Lisk and Steem have sparked enthusiasm in communities developing blockchain-based mobile applications. Lisk operates as a development platform where software engineers construct, release, and generate revenue from decentralized applications, each operating on segregated sidechains for improved speed and protection of the larger network. The Lisk blockchain launched in March following a token sale that raised more than 14,000 BTC—worth roughly US$6 million—to fund the initiative. LSK, the cryptocurrency powering the Lisk ecosystem, currently carries a market capitalization exceeding US$25 million, positioning it as the 12th most valuable cryptocurrency. Max Kordek, Lisk's chief executive officer, commented: "We are thrilled that LSK will now be accepted on Apple's App Store. Today's news indicates a promising opportunity for Lisk developers looking to build for iOS. [...] We look forward to providing developers with tools to build some of the most powerful and secure blockchain applications possible."

Steemit represents a blockchain-based content sharing platform, powered by the Steem cryptocurrency. The platform began operations in beta form in May and mirrors Reddit's structure while offering an innovative twist: users earn cryptocurrency rewards for contributing and evaluating content. Growth has been exceptional, with member numbers surging by 1,600% in the platform's debut month. Approximately 80,000 users have registered accounts. Steem ranks eighth among cryptocurrencies by market value, currently exceeding US$82 million. Ned Scott, Steemit's co-founder and CEO, remarked: "Steem's inclusion on the [Apple] App Store is exciting for our ecosystem and is indicative of widespread future adoption. It's great validation for the Steemit community and all of the incredibly hard working developers who have been building third party Steem applications off our blockchain. Developers have already been creating apps for Steem in droves, and today's acceptance to the iOS App Store gives developers access to potentially hundreds more use cases and million more users."