App adjusts guidelines for NFT and cryptocurrency apps on iOS platforms post antitrust judgment.
Rewritten Article:
A Shift in Power: Apple's iOS App Update Unleashes NFT and Payment Freedom
The Lowdown:
- Following the stir caused by Epic Games' antitrust lawsuit, Apple has eased the reins on iOS app developers, granting them more autonomy over payment methods, including NFT purchases.
SCENE Unveiled
Thursday saw a significant victory for the crypto world as Apple unshackled the restrictions on developers offering apps that direct users to off-platform buying methods and NFT trading. In an email to developers, Apple announced an overhaul of its iOS App Store guidelines, effective immediately, following a recent U.S. District Court judgment.
The court's ruling revealed Apple's persistent breach of a previous injunction, denying them the right to impose a 27% fee on purchases made outside their apps or limiting developers' access to external purchasing methods.
The new guidelines mean that U.S.-based apps are free to showcase NFT collections owned by others, enabling users to browse through various collections without being confined to the traditional in-app purchase system. Moreover, developers can encourage users to bypass standard in-app purchases and navigate to alternative third-party websites.
Wojciech Kulikowski, a software engineer at Farcaster, anticipates these changes will trigger a "generation-defining crypto bull run," due to the increased opportunities for crypto-native mobile apps. These new possibilities beyond Apple's iOS App Store may foster greater experimentation in the realm of cryptocurrency and NFT applications.
Existing NFT marketplaces like OpenSea have been handicapped by limited functionality on iOS due to purchase restrictions within the app. Solutions like Magic Eden's digital wallet now offer the possibility of in-app purchases via an embedded browser, mimicking the self-custodial wallets of MetaMask, Coinbase, and Uniswap.
Although Apple's iOS App Store guidelines continue to enforce strict regulations surrounding cryptocurrencies, the relaxation of restrictions regarding NFTs and external payment methods represents a significant step forward for the industry. This move aims to promote innovation within the crypto and NFT sectors on the iOS platform.
Initially, Google jumpstarted this trend by revising its Google Play Store policies in 2023, enabling NFTs to unlock in-app content regardless of where the transaction occurred. Furthermore, game developers were required to disclose their blockchain integration, as mandated on the Epic Games platform.
Apple has yet to comment on these latest changes.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
Bonus Facts:
- Apple's updates adhere to the recent U.S. court order, aiming to invigorate innovation within the crypto and NFT space on the iOS platform.
- With the new guidelines, developers in the U.S. can now allow users to navigate to external websites for both NFT purchases and alternative payment methods, bypassing Apple's standard in-app purchase system and evading the 27% fee.
- Developers no longer require specialized entitlements such as the StoreKit External Purchase Link to include external payment links in their apps.
- Despite the progress, Apple continues to enforce bans on crypto mining and token rewards within apps.
Sources:
[1] Apple Allows for External Purchasing Buttons and Links for U.S. Developers
[2] Apple Lifts Ban on External Payment Methods for U.S. Developers: Full Details
[3] Apple Longer Prohibits NFT Purchases Through In-App System
[4] Apple Cutting Developers in the U.S. Some Slack: NFTs and External Payments
[5] Apple Makes Changes to App Store Policies After Epic Games Lawsuit Settlement
- The recent update to Apple's iOS App Store guidelines, effective immediately, allows developers to showcase NFT collections owned by others, offer in-app purchases via embedded browsers, and direct users to off-platform buying methods.
- This shift in App Store policies is anticipated to trigger a significant crypto bull run, according to software engineer Wojciech Kulikowski, as it opens up opportunities for crypto-native mobile apps.
- The new guidelines eliminate the need for specialized entitlements like the StoreKit External Purchase Link, enabling developers to include external payment links in their apps.
- Although Apple still bans crypto mining and token rewards within apps, the relaxation of restrictions regarding NFTs and external payment methods indicates a step forward in promoting innovation within the crypto and NFT sectors on iOS.
- Similar changes were initiated by Google in 2023, as they revised their Google Play Store policies to allow NFTs to unlock in-app content, regardless of where the transaction occurred.
- Game developers were also required to disclose their blockchain integration, following the lead set by Epic Games' platform. However, Apple has yet to comment on these latest changes.
