Happy Saturday nostriches,

Back in November 2022, we introduced a revolutionary feature known as Zap on our web platform, Starbackr. We wrote about it here. An explosive surge in user engagement followed. The community, including you, were rewarded for your creativity. We watched as stars were born and talented creators ascended the ranks.

Around the same time, we started building on the Nostr protocol and seized the opportunity to incorporate our Zaps into its fabric. This initiative marked the dawn of our venture, the genesis of the Current App - a meticulously crafted beacon of hope for both iOS and Android users, with zaps at its core.

The Current App significantly deviates from the existing cohorts of Nostr Apps. It is a powerful tool equipped with an inbuilt wallet that turns zapping into an economic signal with a mere press of a button. This revolutionary step gave rise to an unexpected response. Numerous creators found a home in the Current App, managing their satoshi income, using the wallet to zap, and boost others.

However, innovation rarely comes without hurdles. The real storm brewed when Apple, the Silicon Valley overlord, targeted our ally, the Damus App, demanding the removal of 'zap' from posts. We all bore witness to the saga that unfolded. In response to Apple's store policy, the Damus app eliminated 'zaps' from posts and sought refuge in the Apple App Store. This decision echoed across the Nostr iOS community, leading to the widespread removal of the 'zap' feature from all Nostr iOS Apps.

We could have followed this path, cowered, and surrendered, stripping our app of its soul. However, we are not ones to back down or to sacrifice our user experience for an easy route. We would rather dismantle our app than compromise our zaps.

Apple, a corporate juggernaut, is a machine fine-tuned to churn out profits every quarter. In contrast, we are a community. We are the Nostr/Current, a collective guided by principles and unity. Of course, our goals are as distinct as night and day, but we believe in a path that can reconcile both. The App Store served as a window to Bitcoin, Lightning, and Nostr for many newcomers, and we couldn't simply close that window.

As such, we engaged in a dialogue with the App Store team, seeking an alternative that could honor both our Zaps and the App Store's policy. It has been a hard-fought battle requiring significant perseverance. Apple rejected our revisions four times and set a deadline, August 4th, which has now passed.

Yesterday, we submitted our final version, our last shot, for review. We refuse to bow without a fight. We pledge to continue our resistance, to push back, and to stand our ground.

Ultimately, this battle is about more than just keeping the Current App on the App Store. It's about principles, values, and the future we envision. It's about the legacy we wish to leave behind. As a community, as a revolution, we stand for certain principles. We invite you to join us as we continue this fight, for it's far from over.

We will keep everyone updated on the progress and inform you if and when Apple removes the Current App from the App Store.