In the United States, Apple has relaxed restrictions for apps working with digital assets and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This change stems from an antitrust case between Apple and Epic Games. Developers can now direct users to external resources and display NFT collections directly within iOS apps.
Court Ordered Apple to Change Its Policy
A federal court ruled that Apple “knowingly” violated a 2021 injunction that prohibited collecting commissions from payments made outside the App Store. In response, Apple has updated its App Store moderation guidelines: developers are now allowed to add buttons and links leading to third-party websites, where users can interact with digital assets. Previously, such actions could result in an app being blocked.
In a letter to developers, Apple clarified that the new rule applies to the App Store storefront in the U.S. and only covers external links, not in-app purchases.
NFT Marketplaces to Gain More Freedom
The changes will primarily benefit NFT platforms such as OpenSea, which previously could only display tokens in iOS apps but could not offer the ability to purchase them. According to Farcaster engineer Wojciech Kulikowski, the update could trigger a “golden bull rally for the consumer crypto market.”
Now developers have greater freedom to build apps with native cryptocurrency and NFT integrations. Previously, Apple blocked such features, which had limited the growth of mobile Web3 products.
Which Restrictions Still Apply
Despite the easing, Apple’s main restrictions on cryptocurrencies remain in place. Apps are still prohibited from:
- using tokens as rewards for actions,
- conducting ICOs,
- utilizing users’ devices for mining.
Earlier, Google changed its Play Store policy to allow NFTs to unlock in-app content regardless of where they were purchased. However, developers are still required to disclose that their product is blockchain-based, as is also the case on the Epic Games platform.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not an ad or investment advice. Please do your own research making any decisions.
