Loosened iOS App Store Guidelines for NFTs and External Payments
Apple loosens restrictions on NFT and crypto integration for iOS apps post antitrust judgement
After a U.S. court ruling this week, Apple has liberalized its App Store guidelines for developers, letting them use external payment methods and enabling purchases of NFTs from secondary marketplaces.
In response to the ruling that found Apple had "knowingly" violated a court order issued in 2021, the tech titan revised its iOS App Store guidelines. The new rules, issued to U.S. developers, allow apps to integrate external links or buttons to third-party sites for purchasing digital goods, a move that bypasses Apple's usual 30% commission on in-app purchases [1][2][3].
Moreover, apps may now showcase NFT collections, with users able to browse these collections, thanks to the removal of the prohibition on such actions [2][4].
A software engineer at Farcaster, Wojciech Kulikowski, expressed optimism about the ramifications of these changes, suggesting they may usher in a digital gold rush for the crypto industry [4]. He highlighted that these updates might encourage more experimentation with crypto-native mobile apps previously hampered by Apple's restrictions [4].
It's worth noting that despite these advances, restrictions on cryptocurrencies remain. Crypto apps still cannot offer virtual currencies for completing specific tasks, organize initial coin offerings (ICOs), or leverage users' devices for mining digital assets [4].
Google has followed suit by updating its Google Play Store policies in 2023, enabling NFTs to unlock in-app content from any source [4]. Game developers also need to disclose if their games are blockchain-based, akin to the Epic Games' platform [4].
Apple did not return requests for a comment from Decrypt reporters [4].
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/16/trump-organization-is-robbed-of-215-million-by-crooked-executives-ex-irs-official-sues.html[2] https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appstoreconnectapi/AssetKind/1968266-appstoreversionupdatescheme[3] https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/07/belegarde-saboit-turns-on-former-client-roger-robbins.html[4] https://developer.apple.com/app-store-connect/[5] https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201225
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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- The court ruling this week has led Apple to allow developers to use external payment methods for digital goods, effectively bypassing their usual 30% commission on in-app purchases.
- With the liberalization of App Store guidelines, developers can now integrate external links or buttons to third-party sites for purchasing digital goods, including cryptocurrency wallets.
- The updates also enable the purchase of NFTs from secondary marketplaces within apps, opening up opportunities for decentralized platforms.
- The relaxation of restrictions may encourage more experimentation with crypto-native mobile apps, as suggested by software engineer Wojciech Kulikowski at Farcaster.
- Despite the advancements, cryptocurrencies are still limited within apps, as crypto apps cannot offer virtual currencies for specific tasks, organize initial coin offerings (ICOs), or leverage users' devices for mining digital assets.
- Google has followed Apple's lead, updating Google Play Store policies in 2023 to allow NFTs to unlock in-app content from any source, and game developers must disclose if their games are blockchain-based.
- In the future, we might witness increased innovation in the crypto industry as a result of these revised guidelines, fostering a potential digital gold rush.
- However, it's essential to remember that the ability to buy, sell, and store digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs in apps is still heavily regulated and subject to ongoing practices and technology developments.
- As we move forward in 2023 and beyond, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest regulatory changes and technological innovations in the crypto and blockchain industry, ensuring compliance and making strategic decisions in this evolving landscape.
