Apple Relaxes App Store Crypto Rules After Court Ruling, Paving Way for Increased Crypto Adoption

Apple has recently relaxed its App Store restrictions on cryptocurrency-related apps following a U.S. court ruling in its ongoing legal dispute with Epic Games. The judge’s decision prohibits Apple from collecting fees on purchases made outside of iOS apps and from restricting how developers direct users to external payment options. This change is currently only effective in the United States, and Apple has announced its intention to appeal the ruling.

The update allows iOS apps to include buttons, external links, and calls to action for users to browse crypto-based NFT collections and make purchases outside the App Store, bypassing the so-called ‘Apple tax’ of up to 30%. Crypto developers and industry commentators have welcomed the move, predicting it could lead to a surge in blockchain adoption and experimentation with crypto-native mobile applications. Some believe this could trigger a significant increase in the use of mobile wallets and direct crypto payments using assets like USDC, ETH, and SOL, without incurring extra fees.

The news comes amid a period of volatility in the crypto markets, with Bitcoin prices rebounding toward $100,000 after recent lows, and broader concerns about the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policies. The change is seen as a potential catalyst for a new wave of crypto adoption, especially among U.S. consumers, and could have far-reaching effects on the mobile app and cryptocurrency industries.