Google clarifies: Non-custodial wallets are safe on Play Store.

Google Play has officially clarified that its updated cryptocurrency app policy will **not ban non-custodial wallets**, despite earlier confusion. While custodial wallets and exchange apps will now require licensing in over 15 jurisdictions—including the U.S. (FinCEN MSB registration and state money transmitter licenses) and the EU (MiCA CASP authorization)—non-custodial wallets like MetaMask or Exodus remain unaffected.

This clarification follows strong industry backlash and concern over a potential crackdown on open-source and self-custodial wallet apps. Google confirmed on X (formerly Twitter), “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.”

Although custodial wallets now face stricter compliance—for instance, implementing KYC/AML programs—non-custodial solutions retain their distribution pathways on the Play Store. The move reassures developers and users that decentralized self-custody tools will remain accessible, while signaling a regulatory tightening around more centralized, custodial services.