Czech startup Vexl and Vexl Foundation, both part of the SatoshiLabs group, are launching their own digital mobile app marketplace called the Freedom Store. This new platform is designed for iOS users in the European Union who want greater control over their devices. The Freedom Store offers access to open-source applications, including Bitcoin wallets and e-cash tools. It also targets tech-savvy users seeking free, unrestricted access to apps. The mission of the Freedom Store is to continue the work of the Vexl Foundation in protecting financial and digital freedom.
The Freedom Store was created in response to the growing centralization of power in the digital space. The project emphasizes user sovereignty and independence by providing practical tools that help individuals preserve their freedom in an increasingly controlled online environment.
"We are launching the Freedom Store in collaboration with AltStore.io, a platform also used by companies like Epic Games. This allows users to install apps outside the official App Store, bypassing Apple’s censorship, tracking, and the risk of their favorite apps disappearing overnight. Our focus is primarily on open-source applications that support personal freedom and sovereignty in various ways - such as Bitcoin wallets, e-cash solutions, and applications for the Nostr protocol. For us, this is another important step toward greater digital freedom," says Lea Petrášová, CEO of Vexl and President of the Vexl Foundation.
Enabling users to download apps from outside the App Store
The development of this open digital marketplace aims to give people access to software that might otherwise be banned or restricted. The Vexl Foundation is also responding to a new regulatory opportunity in the European Union, which now permits alternative app distribution outside of the App Store. The Czech non-profit organization intends to seize this moment to promote freedom, privacy, and technological independence.
"I’m proud that we’ve managed to turn years of frustration over the deeply imbalanced and unsolicited struggle with Apple into a productive solution - one that can also benefit other apps in our industry. The Freedom Store is a natural extension of the Vexl Foundation’s mission. While Vexl focuses on censorship-free, KYC-free peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading, the Freedom Store brings that philosophy to the realm of software distribution," adds Petrášová.
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https://freedomstore.io/
About Vexl Foundation
The Vexl Foundation was created in response to the increasing centralization and regulation of digital finance. Its mission is to strengthen individual financial freedom, support decentralized technologies, and educate the public about ways to protect privacy and autonomy in the digital economy. The foundation supports and funds open-source projects that address issues of privacy, autonomy, and financial rights. It was established by SatoshiLabs - the creators of the first hardware wallet, Trezor.
More about Vexl Foundation on https://www.vexl.foundation/
