Google Shocks with Ban on Unhosted Crypto Wallet Listings, Officially Clarifies “No Restrictions Imposed”

08/14/2025

Google’s Recent Update on Play Store Cryptocurrency Wallet Policy Sparks Global Misunderstanding

Google’s recent announcement regarding the policy for cryptocurrency wallet applications on the Play Store has led to widespread misunderstanding within the global community, with many believing that non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets will soon be banned in regions such as the United States and the United Kingdom. In response, numerous developers and users have criticized the lack of transparency in the policy, claiming it hampers the development of Web3 applications. However, Google has since clarified that these non-custodial wallets are not included in the restrictions, and plans to update its documentation to address the controversy.

Suspected Limitations on Non-Custodial Wallets in Google’s New Policy

In July, Google updated its “Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets Policy” on the developer documentation page for the Play Store, stating that individuals issuing cryptocurrency-related applications in the United States must meet the following qualifications:

Register as a Money Services Business (MSB) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and hold money transmitter licenses in various states.
Be a federally or state-chartered banking entity.

Similar applicable conditions exist in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Due to the mention of “software wallets” needing to register according to local regulations, many developers mistakenly believed that even non-custodial wallets were included in the restrictions.

Community Backlash Following the Announcement

According to foreign media outlet “The Rage,” this new policy could prevent “unregistered non-custodial wallets” from being listed on Google Play in regions including the United States and the United Kingdom, expected to take effect on October 29.

Following this report, many users on Twitter (X) criticized Google for suppressing the Web3 ecosystem and undermining users’ freedom to manage their own assets, thereby affecting the survival and updates of non-custodial wallets such as MetaMask and Trust Wallet.

Google’s Official Clarification

In response to the backlash, Google quickly addressed the issue via Twitter (X), stating:

“Non-custodial wallets are not subject to the Google Play Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets Policy. We will update the Help Center content to clarify the controversy.”

This means that the policy only applies to custodial wallets and cryptocurrency exchanges, and users of non-custodial wallets, who manage their own private keys and have no intermediary asset custody responsibilities, need not worry about restrictions.

Current Status and Future Update Timeline

According to the announcement, Google’s new wallet policy will still officially take effect on October 29, and Google has committed to updating the developer documentation (Help Center) to clarify misunderstandings.

Future cryptocurrency wallet applications listed on Google Play that involve custodial functions or exchange services will still need to comply with local regulations for registration and compliance reporting.

Risk Warning

Investing in cryptocurrency carries a high level of risk, and prices can be highly volatile; you may lose all your principal. Please assess risks carefully.