According to a recent report, Apple has removed the Bitcoin whitepaper from the latest MacBook update, macOS Ventura 13.4 beta 3. It is worth noting that every copy of macOS had the Bitcoin whitepaper in its internal files for the past five years. However, users discovered that the file was gone in the latest version released to app developers.
While Apple did not reveal the reason behind the removal of the whitepaper, some speculate that its existence was an inside joke among Apple engineers. This move has stirred reactions among the crypto community, and many are still uncertain about how it could impact Bitcoin’s image.
Interestingly, the file was part of the VirtualScanner.app, an internal tool that simulates the scanning and exporting of documents and images. Reports suggest that the virtual scanner tool is also missing from the latest macOS beta, confirming that regular users were not supposed to discover the Bitcoin whitepaper and the internal tool.
While users who have not updated their macOS Mojave systems to the latest beta version might still find the file, the recent move indicates that Apple is making changes in its approach to cryptocurrencies.
On April 24, a California court ruled that Apple violated state competition laws by barring developers from using alternative in-app payment methods. This ruling could pave the way for cryptocurrencies to add more functionality to their iOS apps.