Google Reinstate’s MetaMask’s Mobile App for Android

Google Reinstate MetaMask’s Mobile App for Android

On the 1st day of January, 2020 Google reinstated the MetaMask’s mobile app (for Android) in the Google Play Store.

MetaMask’s Android app, which is in the beta testing stage, happens to be both an Ethereum wallet and a decentralized app (DApp) browser. Also people who already use MetaMask on the desktop via its plugin for desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Brave), can sync their existing wallets “in seconds.”

According to the description of the MetaMask app on Google’s Play Store, You can:

“Use MetaMask to send ETH, tokens, or collectibles to anyone anywhere. Or use it to play games, use exchanges, publish content, chat with friends, buy crypto, and so much more.”

On 26th December 2019, MetaMask notified its users that Google had suspended MetaMask’s Android client on the basis that crypto mining apps are not allowed on the Google Play Store. MetaMask tweeted:

“In the last week, the MetaMask Android client was suspended by the Google Play App Store @googleplaydev. They cited their policy that bans mining on mobile, which we don’t. Appeal rejected. #ProtectWeb3″

The MetaMask app does not however support crypto mining but although MetaMask appealed this decision, the appeal got rejected by Google.

On December 27th 2019, Google responded to MetaMask’s tweet as thus”

“Hi , thanks for reaching out. We have escalated your issue to the relevant team for further investigation. We appreciate your patience while we are looking into this. #AskPlayDev”

As of January 1st 2020, Google has, after “careful consideration”, decided to reinstate MetaMask’s Android app.

MetaMask tweeted: “Happy New Year! Upon careful consideration, Google has permitted The MetaMask mobile app back on the Google Play (Android) store! Thanks to all the believers in an open web for speaking out in our support!”

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