Categories: Bitcoin

Google Play Store’s Crypto-Mining Ban Not Going So Well

A little over a month ago, Google banned cryptocurrency mining apps from its Play Store – this was made official when on July 27 the company pushed an update reading “we don’t allow apps that mine cryptocurrency on devices” to its developer policy. All of the existing apps that were in violation of the updated policy were given a 30-day grace period within which they were to revise their products to ensure that they comply with the new terms or face removal from the Play Store.

It has been 30 days since the ban was issued but despite the fact that the deferral period has expired, some apps that enable on-device crypto mining can still be found on the Play Store. Google is not entirely at fault in this case since it has been purging some of the offending apps. However, as it turns out, there is still a lot more work to be done. The company’s inspiration can be partly attributed to a number of security concerns that have led to probes and investigations into ICOs and crypto firms.

Earlier this month, the Google Play Store reportedly hosted an Ethereum (ETH) scam application. Discovered by Lukas Stefanko, a Slovakian malware researcher, the fraudulent “Ethereum” app was being offered for purchase at a price of around $388. According to Stefanko, the scam app was intended to dupe uninformed buyers into purchasing it when they mistook it for the original Ethereum cryptocurrency.

Some of the apps that are reportedly in violation of Google’s new developer policy but are still being hosted in the Play Store include Crypto Miner PRO, Pocket Miner, NeoNeonMiner and Pickaxe Miner. MinerGate, one of the mining apps that was axed from the store boasted of more than a million Android installs. The developers behind the app are however not amused because according to them they had made changes to the app in order to comply with Google’s updated developer policy.

“Mining on your phone directly was among the core features of the MinerGate app before the last changes in Google Play Development policies.” MinerGate wrote in an email addressed to Hard Fork. “With the last update, we are removing this functionality to meet the updated requirements.”

App Developers Going Rouge

Google begin its crackdown on crypto mining software when it announced that it be removing mining extensions from its Chrome Web Store following a revelation that a huge number of them were supposedly not in compliance with the company’s policies. The focus has since shifted to the Play Store and the affected parties are being to get crafty.

Many developers are already trying to find ways to bypass Google’s ban and distribute apps and Chrome extensions with on-device mining capabilities. Still, it will be up to users to decide on the best cause of action with regards to accessing apps with similar functionalities – downloading and installing apps from third parties is very risky. Be warned.

Laura P.

Recent Posts

Polymarket Brings High-Stakes Drama to Luigi Mangione Case

Online gambling enthusiasts have found a new frontier for high-stakes action on Polymarket, the cryptocurrency-driven prediction platform renowned for its…

2 weeks ago

Polymarket Faces Ban in France Amid Regulatory Compliance Review

France’s gambling authority, the Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ), is examining Polymarket, a decentralized cryptocurrency-based prediction platform that has surged…

1 month ago

How Crypto Wallets Are Holding Back Web3 Gaming in Casinos

The rise of Web3 gaming has generated buzz across the gaming and blockchain sectors, offering players the chance to earn…

2 months ago

Rollblock Disrupting Online Gambling with Ethereum and Toncoin

In the ever-evolving world of blockchain technology, Ethereum and Toncoin are poised to dominate the Layer-1 landscape, sparking a heated…

3 months ago

BitStarz Casino Players Embrace Mpeppe as an Opportunity for Crypto Wins

As the worlds of online casinos and cryptocurrency continue to converge, BitStarz Casino players are increasingly drawn to Mpeppe (MPEPE),…

4 months ago

Crypto Whales Drive $5 Billion Surge in Web3 Casino Revenues

Web3 casinos and gambling platforms saw unprecedented financial success in 2023, amassing $5 billion in cryptocurrency from around 4,000 wallets.…

5 months ago