From October 29, Google Play will update its policy for applications with cryptocurrency wallets. Developers of custodial services must obtain a license in more than 15 jurisdictions, including the US and the EU.
In the US, representatives will need to register with FinCEN as Money Services Businesses (MSB). In the European Union, they must obtain the status of a CASP.
These requirements oblige companies to implement AML programs and conduct user verification.
Following sharp criticism from the crypto community on X, Google representatives clarified that the new rules will not affect non-custodial wallets.
Thanks for flagging this. Non-custodial wallets are not in scope of Google Play’s Cryptocurrency Exchanges and Software Wallets Policy. We are updating the Help Center to make this clear.
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) August 13, 2025
“We are updating the Help Center to make this clear,” the statement reads.
An Ambiguous Stance
In 2018, Google banned cryptocurrency mining applications. In 2020, news resources Cointelegraph and CoinDesk were removed from the store without explanation. A year later, the company blocked eight services that deceived users by selling non-existent cloud mining services.
According to Google Play’s policy page on blockchain content, four types of applications require special attention. These include cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets, as well as services that distribute tokenized digital assets or use NFT gamification.
In March, the Financial Intelligence Unit of South Korea’s Financial Services Commission reported the blocking of 17 foreign crypto exchanges on Google Play.