Apple’s New Crypto Policy Could Supercharge Web3 Apps on iOS

In Brief:

Apple now allows crypto apps to direct users to external websites for payments, bypassing its 30% App Store fee.

This shift follows Apple’s court loss to Epic Games and could greatly enhance DApp usability and adoption.

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Apple has revised its App Store policy to permit cryptocurrency-related applications to guide users toward external platforms for transactions, according to reports from Forbes and ChainCatcher. This marks a pivotal development for the iOS ecosystem and the broader Web3 space.

The change stems from Apple’s defeat in its antitrust case against Epic Games. The court ruling now prohibits Apple from forcing developers to use its in-app purchase system, which previously imposed up to a 30% commission. Under the updated guidelines, crypto wallets, NFT marketplaces, and other decentralized applications can legally integrate external payment links—avoiding Apple’s restrictive payment structure.

Previously, the 30% commission made it unfeasible for many Web3 apps to operate effectively on iOS. Several NFT and wallet apps faced delisting or limited features due to these restrictions.

Analysts suggest that this move will significantly enhance the usability of decentralized applications, particularly on iPhones and iPads. It also paves the way for more seamless user onboarding and broader adoption of blockchain-based platforms within the Apple ecosystem.

As developers gain new freedoms, the race to build the next generation of mobile Web3 applications is expected to intensify. Apple’s concession not only aligns iOS more closely with open crypto standards, but also positions the App Store as a potentially competitive frontier in Web3 innovation—especially as Google and other tech giants update their own crypto policies.

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