#AppleCryptoUpdate Apple Tiptoes into Crypto: Legal Wins and Third-Party Integrations Signal Cautious Expansion

May 2025 — In the wake of evolving financial technology and increasing user demand, Apple is making measured moves into the cryptocurrency space—without diving in headfirst. While the tech giant avoids direct adoption or investment, a series of legal and strategic developments suggest Apple is preparing for a future where crypto plays a larger role in digital commerce.

Legal Shift Opens Doors for iOS Crypto Payments

In a landmark decision stemming from its long-standing legal battle with Epic Games, a U.S. federal court ruled that Apple must allow iOS apps to direct users to external payment systems. This shift marks a significant change in Apple’s tightly controlled App Store policies and opens the door to apps offering cryptocurrency and NFT-based transactions. While Apple isn’t directly processing crypto payments, it’s no longer blocking others from doing so on its platform.

This legal change effectively loosens Apple's grip over in-app transactions and signals a broader shift toward financial decentralization, albeit facilitated by third parties.

Apple Pay Embraces Stablecoins via Mesh

Further evidence of Apple's cautious foray into crypto emerged at the Token2049 conference, where fintech infrastructure firm Mesh revealed Apple Pay now supports stablecoin payments. Through Mesh’s technology, merchants can now accept digital assets—such as USDC or USDT—via Apple Pay, providing a seamless experience for users paying with crypto-backed funds.

Importantly, this integration doesn't indicate that Apple Pay is natively crypto-enabled; instead, Mesh serves as a bridge between stablecoins and Apple’s existing payment rails. Nevertheless, this move aligns with growing global interest in stablecoin use for everyday transactions.

No Direct Investment—Yet

Despite rising speculation, Apple remains firm in its stance against direct cryptocurrency investment.

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