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Apple No Longer Allows Crypto Mining on Its Devices—and That’s Good for Users

Apple permits cryptocurrency apps, but not apps that mine on the device itself. Here is what the off-device rule means for iPhone, iPad, Mac and other Apple users.
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iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch apps cannot use the device itself to mine cryptocurrency. Apple’s current App Store Review Guidelines allow mining only when processing happens somewhere else, such as a cloud service. Apps can still provide wallets, exchange features or controls for off-device services, subject to Apple’s other financial and business-model rules.

What Apple’s rule actually says

Section 3.1.5(ii) of Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines states: “Apps may not mine for cryptocurrencies unless the processing is performed off device (e.g. cloud-based mining).” The important distinction is where the computational work occurs.

Activity Apple’s policy position
An app uses an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV or Apple Watch to perform mining calculations Not allowed
An app displays a balance or transactions for a cryptocurrency wallet Not automatically banned; other App Store rules still apply
An app controls or reports on a cloud-mining service whose processing runs elsewhere Permitted in principle under the off-device exception
An app secretly uses CPU or GPU resources for mining Prohibited and potentially treated as suspicious software

Why Apple blocks on-device mining

Mining workloads can keep a processor busy for extended periods. Apple’s hardware guidance tells developers to avoid rapid battery drain, excessive heat and unnecessary strain on CPU, GPU and other device resources. That guidance specifically identifies unrelated background processes, including cryptocurrency mining, as unacceptable.

Battery and heat

A miner that runs continuously can consume power even when the user is doing something unrelated. Sustained processor activity also produces heat, which can make a device uncomfortable and affect normal performance. Apple does not publish a numerical estimate of battery savings, temperature reduction or performance gains resulting from the rule; its rationale is qualitative.

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Without the restriction, an apparently ordinary app could monetize a user’s electricity, battery cycles and hardware capacity. Apple’s security guidance lists software that consumes CPU or GPU cycles through a hidden cryptographic miner without the user’s consent as suspicious software. The policy therefore protects against both deliberate abuse and poorly disclosed background behavior.

Does Apple ban all cryptocurrency apps?

No. The mining restriction is narrower than a ban on cryptocurrency software. A wallet can store keys and show transactions, and other apps can offer cryptocurrency-related features when they meet Apple’s separate requirements.

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Section 3.1.5 also addresses wallet, exchange, licensing and business-model issues. Meeting the off-device mining rule does not by itself guarantee App Store approval: an app must satisfy those additional requirements as well.

What “cloud mining” means here

Cloud mining is the stated exception because the mining computation occurs on remote infrastructure rather than on the customer’s Apple device. An iPhone app might present account information, submit commands or display results, but it cannot turn the phone or Mac into the mining worker.

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The exception is about processing location, not a blanket endorsement of every cloud-mining service. The service and the app must still comply with applicable App Store rules, disclosures and any relevant financial or licensing obligations.

When the explicit rule was added

Apple’s explicit cryptocurrency language dates to June 4, 2018, when 9to5Mac reported that the company had added cryptocurrency provisions to its App Store Review Guidelines. The reported wording included the same basic limitation now present in Apple’s current documentation: mining is allowed only when processing takes place off device.

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How to evaluate a crypto app on an Apple device

  1. Check what device does the work. If the app claims your iPhone, iPad or Mac performs the mining, it conflicts with Apple’s rule.
  2. Look for clear processing disclosures. A legitimate off-device service should identify that computation occurs on remote systems rather than implying that your hardware is mining.
  3. Watch for unexplained resource use. Unusual battery drain, heat or sustained CPU/GPU activity from an app whose advertised function does not require it is a warning sign.
  4. Separate mining from other crypto features. Wallet, exchange and payment functions are evaluated under additional App Store requirements; approval of one feature does not establish approval of another.
  5. Do not assume App Store availability proves safety or profitability. Apple’s mining rule addresses where processing occurs and how resources are used, not whether a particular service is financially sound.
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What users gain from the restriction

The practical benefit is predictable device behavior. Apps may use hardware resources for their declared functions, but they cannot quietly convert an Apple device into an undisclosed mining worker. That reduces the risk of unexpected battery consumption, heat and resource pressure while preserving room for wallets and remote services that follow the other rules.

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