On April 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple must remove restrictions that blocked developers from using external payment links.
The court decision confirmed that Apple violated a 2021 injunction issued during its legal dispute with Epic Games.
Apple had added barriers like warning screens and redirects to prevent users from leaving its in-app payment system. This system takes a 30% commission on each transaction. The judge found these actions in conflict with the previous court order.
“Apple, despite knowing its obligations thereunder, thwarted the Injunction’s goals, and continued its anticompetitive conduct solely to maintain its revenue stream,” the ruling stated.
The order now stops Apple from charging fees or creating new obstacles for off-app payments. This includes payments using digital assets like Ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC), and Solana (SOL).
Apple App Store Guidelines Now Include External Payment Links
After the court ruling, Apple updated its App Store guidelines. The change allows iOS apps to include Apple external payment links if they meet certain conditions.
According to the updated guideline,
“Apps may allow users to browse NFT collections owned by others, provided that, except for apps on the United States storefront, the apps may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.”
This means that only apps on the U.S. storefront can now add Apple external payment links. Developers can avoid Apple’s in-app purchase commission by directing users to outside payment options, including those that use cryptocurrencies.
The update affects all iOS developers working on apps with digital payment features. Crypto apps can now offer new tools and payment models using Apple crypto payments without relying on Apple’s internal system.
NFT iOS Apps Gain Flexibility with Updated Rules
Apple’s guideline change also affects how developers use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in iOS apps. Before this ruling, Apple limited NFT-based features that could be unlocked through token ownership. Now, developers can build NFT iOS apps that offer such features, as long as they follow the updated App Store policy.
The policy allows browsing of NFT collections. For U.S.-based apps, it also enables direct access to NFT purchases through Apple external payment links. This avoids the earlier need to redirect users to external browsers for NFT transactions.
The court ruling helps expand what developers can build with NFT iOS apps. Apps can now unlock specific features based on NFT ownership, increasing flexibility within Apple’s ecosystem.
Developers Still Face Challenges with Crypto Onboarding
Although developers now have more freedom with Apple crypto payments, some limitations remain. Users still need to go through Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to buy tokens. KYC requires personal identification and verification, which adds friction for new users.
The ruling allows for smoother integration of crypto tools in iOS apps, but onboarding remains outside Apple’s control. Crypto users must still rely on external exchanges or wallets to obtain assets like ETH, USDC, or SOL before using them in apps.
Developers building NFT iOS apps and other crypto services must continue working within the constraints of these KYC requirements, even with the updated Apple App Store guidelines.