Google removed Metamask from Android store

Google removed cryptocurrency wallet Metamask from the Google Play Store, because the wallet is a ‘mining app’. As a result the Ethereum decentralized app browser is no longer available for Android devices. After being removed last week, Google also rejected an appeal by the Metamask team.

Metamask has approximately 264 thousand users per month on Android. Users of the app can interact with decentralized applications and store a wide variety of cryptocurrencies. Despite the claims of Google, Metamask isn’t used for mining cryptocurrencies.

Even though the tech behemoth removed Metamask from the app store for Android devices, the wallet is still available for desktop browsers. Almost one million people have Metamask installed in their desktop browser. In addition the developer vowed to provide alternative ways to get Metamask on Android devices, for example through browsers like Firefox and Brave.

What’s going on with Google and crypto?

Good question. Earlier this week YouTube, together with Google and Android part of the Alphabet behemoth, removed a great amount of cryptocurrency-related videos. While wielding the ban hammer, the crypto community outraged. For many content creators this led to the realization that their content should be hosted on multiple platforms, including decentralized ones like, BTFS, LBRY, DLive or BitTubers.

YouTube has issued an apology, and has been reinstating videos. It’s unknown whether everybody has gotten their content back and their strikes removed, but it looks like a mistake in the automated banning software.

But Google does like blockchain

Google and cryptocurrencies have been in conflict on multiple occasions. For example, Google refused to run crypto advertisements on YouTube. However, the company also looks at blockchain technology. In June they announced a partnership with blockchain startup Chainlink. This would allow blockchain developers using smart contracts to call upon data outside the blockchain.

However, Google lags behind on competitors like Amazon and Microsoft. These companies are big in cloud computing and cloud services. In addition they combine this with services aimed at blockchain technology. Microsoft is involved in the establishment of a framework for blockchain tokens. They are also working on blockchain-powered artificial intelligence.

At the same time Amazon researches blockchain technology, and as results they have been filing patents left and right. For example, they are working on a blockchain-powered advertisement system.

Originally published at NEDEROB.