#AppleCryptoUpdate While the excitement is understandable, the claim that Apple has fully embraced crypto payments for all App Store in-app purchases is not accurate. Recent developments have indeed altered Apple’s payment policies, but they don’t equate to a wholesale adoption of cryptocurrency. 

🔍 What’s Actually Happening

In response to a U.S. court ruling in the Epic Games v. Apple case, Apple has updated its App Store Guidelines to permit developers to include links to external payment options within their apps. This change applies specifically to apps available in the U.S. App Store and allows developers to steer users outside Apple’s App Store to make external purchases. However, Apple is simultaneously appealing the decision. 

Despite this policy shift, Apple has faced criticism for its compliance. A federal judge recently found Apple in violation of a prior antitrust injunction related to its App Store practices, escalating the matter to federal prosecutors for potential criminal contempt charges. The judge criticized Apple for intentionally circumventing her 2021 ruling, which mandated the company allow developers to direct users to alternative payment methods outside its App Store. 

💸 What About Crypto Payments?

As of now, Apple has not approved the use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum for in-app purchases across the App Store. While Apple Pay has integrated with Circle’s USDC stablecoin to allow certain crypto-native businesses to accept payments via Apple Pay, this functionality is limited to specific use cases and does not extend to general in-app purchases within the App Store. 

🧭 Bottom Line

Apple’s recent policy changes mark a significant shift in its App Store payment policies, allowing developers to include external payment links in their apps. However, this does not equate to a full-scale adoption of cryptocurrency payments for in-app purchases. The integration of crypto payments remains limited and is subject to specific conditions and use cases.