Google Play imposes new and strict licenses for cryptocurrency wallets

By Canuto

Google Play updated its policies: from October it will require that wallet developers and cryptocurrency exchanges that wish to list their apps have government licenses, including money transmitters.

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Google Play updates its policies for wallet developers and cryptocurrency exchanges.
As of October, it will require developers government licenses, including money transmitters.
Specific licenses in more than a dozen jurisdictions, with strict demands in the US and Europe.
Politics brings criticism of not distinguishing between custody and non-colustody wallets.

The Application Store of Google It is introducing new and strict policies for wallets and cryptocurrency exchanges, which will require developers to have government licenses before uploading their applications.

As of October 29, 2025, Google Play It will implement a policy that requires cryptocurrency wallet application developers and exchange platforms to obtain government licenses in 15 jurisdictions, including the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, according to the company through its Policy Center.

This measure, which seeks to guarantee a “safe and satisfied ecosystem”For users, it has generated criticism for imposing requirements that exceed current legal regulations, especially for wallets not custody or self -ustody.

New licensing requirements

The policy of Google Play It will require that cryptocurrency wallet application developers and exchange platforms comply with specific regulations in each target country.

In USAdevelopers must be registered with the Financial Crimes Execution Network (FINCEN) as monetary services (MSB) and have money transmitter licenses at the state level, or be an authorized banking entity, depending on listing its applications. This implies implementing compliance programs against money laundering (AML), terrorism financing (CTF) and procedures to know your client (KYC).

In the European Uniondevelopers must obtain an authorization as a supplier of cryptactive services (CASP) under the cryptoactive market regulations (MICA). Temporary exceptions apply in France (until June 30, 2026, with DASP registration against AMF) and Germany (until December 30, 2025, with BAFIN licenses). Meanwhile, in the United Kingdoma record will be required with the Financial Behavior Authority (FCA).

Other affected countries include Canada, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, among others, each with specific licenses requirements, such as the Registration with Fentrac in Canada or the Financial Services Agency in the case of Japan.

Impact on custody and no custody wallets

A controversial point is that Politics does not distinguish between custodial wallets (where the supplier controls the private keys of users, such as Coinbase either Binance) and Non-custody or auto-cycustodia wallets (where users manage their own private keys, such as cases MetamSk either Exodus).

In the US, and the EU, both types of wallets face the same licensing requirements, despite the fact that current regulations, such as the 2019 Finn guide, exempt non -custodial wallets from being classified as money transmitters.

In the European bloc, non-custodial wallets face an additional obstacle: the Mica Regulations is designed for exchange platforms and custodial services, which means that self-supported wallets do not qualify for CASP authorization, making it difficult to comply with. This could exclude many Google Play independent developers in the European Union.

Criticism and concerns

Experts and developers have criticized the policy for imposing excessive regulatory loads. The journalist L0la L33tz said in The Rage that “Google’s policy goes far beyond what the law demands for non -custodial wallets“ describing it as a case of “Commercial application regulation”.

These restrictions could limit innovation, especially for small developers, since obtaining licenses such as MSB or CASP implies significant costs, which can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars, and maintain substantial cash reserves.

Bill Hughes, lawyer Consensyshighlighted the lack of clarity in the definition of “Software Wallet “ And he pointed out that registration as MSB “It is not something that Finnn has specifically required ” For non -custodial wallets. Justin Slaughter, from Paradigmhe described the measure as “Draconian“, Especially in the context of the antitrust litigation in progress against Google.

Context and possible repercussions

Politics arrives at a time of growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, with a favorable regulatory panorama, Bitcoin reaching a historical maximum of USD $ 123,000 and an increase in the use of Stablecoins for global payments and remittances.

However, the influence of Googlewith the Android system representing 70% of the global smartphones market, it gives to Google Play A significant control about which crypto tools are accessible to mobile users -and which are not. Although the installation of apps through Sideloading It is an option, this process requires technical knowledge that limit its accessibility.

The new policy could reduce the availability of non -custodial wallets in Google Playfavoring large companies with robust compliance budgets. This could limit the options of Android users, moving away from autocustody tools to custodial services or browse -based interfaces, which have different risk profiles.

Google Play It has a locking history towards the cryptocurrency industrywith the first restrictions appearing in 2018 for applications that offered cryptocurrency mining. It is estimated that the recommendations of the International Financial Action Group (FATF) have been influencing the policies of Google. The company updated its policy in 2023 to allow apps as games based on Blockchain With NFT, although only under certain conditions.

Developers of the cryptocurrency community still expect details about the last change, due to their potential to redefine access to cryptocurrencies in the mobile ecosystem worldwide.

Article written with the help of AI, edited by Diariobitcoin

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