On Wednesday (January 1), Google gave the MetaMask team a wonderful New Year’s present: it reinstated MetaMask’s mobile app (for Android) in the Google Play Store.
MetaMask's Android app, which is in the beta testing stage, is both an Ethereum wallet and a decentralized app (DApp) browser. And those users 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, here is what you can do with MetaMask:
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 26 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:
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.https://t.co/rfP4EbOAqv!?zippy_activeEl=cryptocurrencies%23cryptocurrencies
— MetaMask (@metamask_io) December 26, 2019
The problem with Google’s defense of this action is that the MetaMask app does not support crypto mining. Unfortunately, although MetaMask appealed this decision, the appeal got rejected by Google.
On 27 December 2019, Google responded to MetaMask’s tweet as follows:
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
— Google Play Apps & Games (@GooglePlayDev) December 27, 2019
However, now, it seems that thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support from the crypto community, Google has, after “careful consideration”, decided to reinstate MetaMask’s Android app.
This is how MetaMask announced the good news and thanked “all the believers in an open web for speaking out”:
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! https://t.co/Z8KOCtvHq0
— MetaMask (@metamask_io) January 1, 2020
Featured Image Courtesy of MetaMask