The brief removal of MetaMask from Apple’s App Store was due to an internal error and was resolved within hours.
Over the weekend, MetaMask, a widely used cryptocurrency wallet application, faced a brief disappearance from Apple’s App Store. However, it made a swift comeback within a few hours. Importantly, other popular wallet apps such as Coinbase, Uniswap, and Binance remained unaffected on the App Store.
The Inside Scoop
A spokesperson from MetaMask quickly clarified that the removal occurred due to an internal operational mistake, rather than an action from Apple. Unlike past controversies surrounding app removals, this incident raises no security concerns for MetaMask users. The team has been diligently working on resolving the issue.
Taylor Monahan, MetaMask’s lead product manager, responded to the situation almost immediately. She encouraged the crypto community to report any fake or malicious MetaMask apps appearing on the App Store. She stressed that the greatest risk in removing legitimate apps like MetaMask is that it opens the door for scam apps to take their place. Later, the official MetaMask account replaced her statement with a more formal response.
Elo Gimenez, the global public relations director for ConsenSys, which owns MetaMask, also made a statement. She confirmed that the brief removal was not a result of malicious activity. She reiterated that this should not cause any alarm for MetaMask users. She also urged users to be vigilant and report any suspicious apps pretending to be MetaMask.
How Does This Connect to Past Events?
Interestingly, this isn’t MetaMask’s first brush with app store removals. In 2019, Google Play also removed MetaMask from its store, only to reinstate it a week later. Additionally, in December of 2022, Dan Finlay, the co-founder and co-lead developer of MetaMask, criticized Apple’s App Store policies. This came after Apple removed the Coinbase app, which is another major cryptocurrency wallet. At that time, Finlay voiced his willingness to move away from the Apple ecosystem entirely.
By Saturday midday, MetaMask resumed its spot on the Apple App Store, and all functions are operating normally. With scams and phishing attempts on the rise, however, this episode serves as a reminder to always be cautious and vigilant. If you do come across a fake MetaMask app, the team urges you to report it immediately to protect yourself and the broader crypto community.