[ceejayoz]

> The only thing that has changed is that bitcoin has become competitive to Apple’s own payment system.

Well, that, and a bunch of media, law enforcement, and legislative attention.

> Bitcoin’s use for international payments from family members sending money home to support entire communities in the developing world and for charity fundraising and fund distribution will be severely affected by this decision.

Can't they just use their web browser?

[pdx6]

> Well, that, and a bunch of media, law enforcement, and legislative attention.

Normal currencies and online currencies suffer from these same 3 issues though.

[meepmorp]

Normal currencies are backed by sovereign governments, are controlled by regulatory regimes, and don't get pitched as a way of anonymizing transactions/avoiding government interference in shady dealings.

[pdx6]

Cash is used anonymously and for shady dealings too. Compare this to the blockchain, which is public, not anonymous.

There is no rule that says a currency has to be backed by a government, since people have traded without government backed currency since the dawn of man.