Apple has reportedly removed the Bitcoin whitepaper from its latest beta version. The whitepaper, which outlines the original vision and workings of the cryptocurrency, was previously available on Apple’s App Store. It is unclear why Apple has removed the whitepaper, but some speculate that it may be due to concerns about illegal activity related to cryptocurrencies. This move by Apple has caused controversy among the cryptocurrency community, with many questioning the company’s motives and calling for the whitepaper to be reinstated.
Apple Removes Bitcoin Whitepaper from Latest Beta Version of MacOS
Apple recently removed the digital copy of Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin whitepaper from the latest beta version of its operating system. The whitepaper was originally embedded as an Easter egg within a test scanner app on macOS. According to a report, users who update to the MacOS Ventura 13.4 beta 3 will no longer have access to the Bitcoin whitepaper. However, those who haven’t updated their Mac to the latest beta can still find the file by running a command.
American technologist Andy Baio revealed in a blog post on April 5th that he stumbled upon the Bitcoin whitepaper while trying to fix his wireless printer. He added that the whitepaper’s PDF copy could have been added to the system with macOS Mojave, which was launched in 2018. Since then, the story has gained significant traction and prompted several conspiracy theories, including speculation about the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto.
The controversial computer scientist and self-proclaimed “Bitcoin creator of Bitcoin,” Craig Wright, even accused Apple of violating copyright laws. However, this seems unlikely as the Bitcoin whitepaper falls under the public domain, meaning that it cannot be copyrighted or trademarked.
It’s unclear why Apple decided to remove the Bitcoin whitepaper from its latest beta version of MacOS. However, Baio later updated in a tweet that “someone internally filed it as an issue nearly a year ago… they’ve indicated it will likely be removed in future versions.”
In any case, the removal of the Bitcoin whitepaper from the beta version of MacOS is unlikely to have any significant impact on the cryptocurrency industry. It remains widely available online and in various forms, ensuring that the Bitcoin community and enthusiasts can still access it.