A cryptocurrency wallet and mining app JSEcoin get approval from Google Play to be listed in the application store despite the corporation earlier placing a ban on all mining activities on Android devices. JSEcoin’s main function is to perform as a wallet but it offers users to also mine crypto as a substitute to the in-app advertisement.
The process of offering users to borrow the processing power of their device as an alternative to pushing imposing adverts is not new. But as the case of The Pirate Bay showed, not many agree or happy with such a tradeoff. And when it comes to mining on mobile phones this is more evident as such activity not only drains the battery but may also cause severe damage in the process as the device may overheat.
JSEcoin claims that it went through all the appropriate channels to get the app listed, so it seems that Google is ready to make some exceptions to its recently imposed rules. “We have additionally reached out to the Google Support team to confirm if we are allowed to allow our users to mine our tokens via our official app,” said the CTO of the firm, John Sim.
Google reportedly replied by saying that policies are constantly being updated. The app was subsequently taken down briefly but it looks like it’s now back on Google Play for good.
Why is it Important?
Several other mining applications have also been approved, or at least not taken down yet. Crypto Miner, MinerGate and Monero Mobile Miner are just a few examples of what can be found on Google Play. Some of the apps boast millions in downloads.
Google expressed serious concerns over mining app when it first banned them and it’s not clear what made the tech giant change its mind to allow these apps back to the store.