Apple Nixes Bitcoin Whitepaper From macOS Ventura Beta

Apple removed an Easter egg from its latest macOS Ventura beta release, which let users access the Bitcoin whitepaper.

Apple has removed the Bitcoin whitepaper from its latest macOS Venture beta, as it removed the Virtual Scanner II app in the release. The removal is interesting, given the fact that the Bitcoin whitepaper’s presence there was actually an ‘Easter egg.’

There has never been an explanation as to why the whitepaper was there in the first place. It was essentially a hidden file that required specific prompts to access.

It could be the fact that Apple removed the Virtual Scanner II app from the macOS Ventura 13.4 beta 3. The app was required to access the hidden file that was the Bitcoin whitepaper. Its existence could boil down to the fact that the developer who put it there was a crypto enthusiast or merely put it there in jest.

Of course, as is typical on the internet, some are speculating that there is an ulterior motive at hand. It’s highly unlikely that any such intent exists, as the Virtual Scanner II app was never really intended for public use.

Judge Rules Apple’s 30% Tax Mandate As Ilegal

Apple has found itself making headlines in crypto media a few times in the past. This has largely been due to the fact that it wants its 30% tax cut on iOS, which riled the crypto community up. Crypto enthusiasts have questioned whether Apple’s actions are a threat to NFTs and web3 in general.

Apple’s taxation rules particularly affect the NFT market, which has many transactions occurring frequently. Apple has also implemented several other restrictions relating to NFTs.

On the plus side, one judge ruled that the 30% tax rule is illegal. This could bring some relief to the NFT market, though there’s no clarity on what exactly will happen going forward.

Apple Treads Deeper Into AI

Meanwhile, Apple has been focusing its attention on the AI market, which is the major headline of 2023. While Meta and Snapchat have been focusing on chatbots that enhance the experience of their particular apps, Apple is working on an AI health coaching service that is part of a general wellness effort.

Crypto projects are also working on their own AI efforts, with many related projects seeing a rise in prices alongside the growth of ChatGPT. Now, the focus appears to be on tokenizing AI chatbots as a data-driven economy boom takes place.