Apple Loosens NFT, Crypto App Rules After Court Ruling

Apple has updated its iOS App Store guidelines following a U.S. District Court decision in the Epic Games antitrust case. The tech giant now permits developers to include external links for NFT purchases and secondary marketplaces, marking a significant shift in its previously restrictive policies. This change stems from a court order requiring Apple to drop payment fees on external purchases and remove barriers to third-party payment systems.

While Apple maintains prohibitions on crypto mining and token rewards within apps, the ruling forces broader concessions. The court found Apple violated an earlier injunction limiting developer freedom. NFT and crypto applications now gain critical flexibility to direct users to alternative payment methods—a long-standing point of contention in the developer community.

The policy adjustment reflects mounting legal and regulatory pressure on Apple’s walled-garden ecosystem. As Web3 adoption grows, such decisions may accelerate mainstream integration of blockchain-based assets. market participants will watch whether similar platforms follow suit in loosening NFT commerce restrictions.