Apple now permits external links for NFT purchases and secondary marketplaces, while still prohibiting crypto mining and token-based rewards within apps.
This challenges Apple’s control over in-app purchases and could lead to more competitive practices in the app marketplace.
Apple has made changes to its App Store policies surrounding cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), following a ruling from the U.S. District Court in the Epic Games antitrust case. The court fight began in August 2020 when Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite, filed a lawsuit against Apple. Epic challenged the App Store’s rules, calling them anti-competitive.
At the heart of the lawsuit was Apple’s requirement that all in-app purchases go through its own payment system, from which it took a 30% cut. Things escalated when Epic introduced a direct payment option within the Fortnite app, which Apple swiftly removed from the App Store for violating its policies.
In April 2025, U.S. District Jud
