Apple Challenges Damus Over Bitcoin Lightning Zaps

Apple objected to Damus's use of Lightning zaps in ways it considered inconsistent with App Store in-app purchase rules. Damus altered where zaps could be initiated in order to remain distributed through the App Store, making the dispute a practical example of an open Bitcoin payment rail operating inside a closed software-distribution ecosystem.

The practical adoption channel was direct Lightning payment functionality. The change mattered because it put Bitcoin or Lightning into an actual user-facing product, payment path, or regulated service rather than remaining only a technical possibility.

The Bitcoin connection ran through lightning payment functionality. Clean collision between open Lightning payments and centralized App Store payment rules.

Continuity with Jan Damus launch.