Two independent Bitcoin developers have found a workaround to Apple’s ban on the Bitcoin-friendly social media app Damus, allowing users to once again tip or zap each other with bitcoin (BTC) on content posted in the app. Ben Carman and Paul Miller, co-founders of Mutiny wallet, created the Zapple Pay service, which enables zaps via emojis. Since emojis are allowed on posts, users can send zaps on posts, despite Apple’s restrictions.
When they react to a post with that emoji, we initiate a zap to that post, Carman said.
The Damus creator, William Casarin, had no role in the development of Zapple Pay, nor any affiliation with the developers. Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, whose current company Block (SQ) is largely Bitcoin-focused, acknowledged the efforts of the Zapple Pay developers, posting on the Damus app, Zaps always find a way.
Apple banning note zaps is like trying to ban hyperlinks in browsers, Casarin said. It’s just a piece of technology and they have zero power to stop it.
Carman added, We could build the same thing for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. So if they go after Damus, then we’ll replicate it for Twitter and try to force their hand.