Unleashing the New iOS App Landscape
App Store Adjusts Crypto and NFT Guidelines for iOS Applications in Response to Antitrust Decision
In a game-changing move for the tech world, Apple has revamped its iOS app developer rules following a court decision. The update offers developers a freer hand in offering external payment methods and even enabling purchases of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) from secondary marketplaces. However, some crypto-related restrictions linger for iPhone and iPad apps.
Fortnite's Epic Games' antitrust case against Apple ushered in a fresh wave of possibilities for the crypto industry, as Apple loosened its grip on developers' abilities to direct users towards unconventional payment avenues or digital collectibles within the US.
The newest version of Apple's iOS App Store review guidelines comes after a US District Judge declared this week that Apple had intentionally flouted a court injunction in 2021. As a result, the federal court barred Apple from charging fees on purchases made outside its app ecosystem and limiting developers' capacity to guide users to third-party websites.
Emails acquired by Decrypt reveal that iOS developers have gained new freedom, as apps on the U.S. storefront are now clear to incorporate buttons, external links, or other prompts to invite users to explore NFT collections owned by others. Furthermore, the guidelines now permit developers to persuade users to opt for payment options beyond in-app purchases without the need for special permits on the U.S. App Store.
While these modifications do not extend to in-app features like premium content or in-game boosts, they could trigger a "digital gold rush" for consumer crypto, according to software engineer Wojciech Kulikowski of Farcaster. He believes that these changes pave the way for innovative cryptocurrency-based mobile apps that may have been previously snubbed from the iOS App Store.
Previously, NFT marketplaces like OpenSea only offered limited functionality via their iOS apps, where users could only peruse NFT collections without the ability to purchase them. However, companies such as Magic Eden have released digital wallets within their applications, enabling users to make in-app purchases using an embedded browser – similar to self-custodial wallets provided by popular firms like MetaMask, Coinbase, and Uniswap.
Although Apple's iOS App Store review guidelines continue to impose strict conditions on cryptocurrencies, with prohibitions on offering currency for accomplishing tasks, facilitating Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), and using devices for mining digital assets, this recent update marks a significant leap forward for crypto and Web3 developers.
Meanwhile, Google softened its Google Play Store regulations in 2023, permitting NFTs to unblock in-app content regardless of where they were procured. Like its mobile rival, Google mandated game developers to disclose whether their offerings were blockchain-based, reflecting the standards set by the Epic Games platform. Upon request for comment, Apple remained unresponsive.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
The Daily Debrief Newsletter
Sources:1. https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#non-standard-payment-processing2. https://9to5mac.com/2022/11/04/apple-ios-app-store-appear-nfts/3. https://www.axios.com/tech/2022/11/04/apple-ios-app-store-nfts4. https://www. Bloodex.com/news/apple-ios-app-store-nft-lawsuit5. https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-fights-nft-company-over-ios-rules-11667328424
- The iOS App Store's updated guidelines allow developers to guide users towards external payment methods and NFT marketplaces, a significant shift resulting from a court decision.
- The new iOS App Store guidelines now permit apps to incorporate links to NFT collections, opening up possibilities for user exploration of digital assets.
- The recent modifications do not enable in-app purchases of premium content or in-game boosts, but they could spark a boom in consumer crypto apps, according to software engineer Wojciech Kulikowski.
- NFT marketplaces, such as OpenSea and Magic Eden, are enhancing their iOS apps to include digital wallets for in-app purchases, similar to those offered by MetaMask, Coinbase, Uniswap, and others.
- While Apple's iOS App Store continues to prohibit offering digital assets for accomplishing tasks, ICOs, and mining, the new update is a major step forward for crypto and Web3 developers.
- Google loosened Google Play Store regulations in 2023, allowing NFTs to unlock in-app content from any source and mandating game developers to disclose blockchain integration.
- Despite Apple's continued restrictions on cryptocurrencies, the recent updates to the iOS App Store guidelines represent a significant shift for the crypto industry, opening up new opportunities for developers and Digital Asset Finance technology.
