Apple Must Remove Restrictions Blocking Developers from Using External Payment Links

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ordered Apple to remove restrictions that blocked developers from using external payment links, as reported by Decrypt. The ruling, made on April 30, 2025, confirms that Apple violated a 2021 injunction issued during its legal dispute with Epic Games.

The judge had previously mandated Apple to allow direct links to external crypto payment methods in its App Store apps by May 1, 2024. However, Apple introduced new measures to hinder these links, such as warning screens and redirects, rendering them largely unusable.

These actions were deemed in conflict with the previous court order, which mandated Apple to cease any conduct that would impede or impair the goal of the injunction.

“Apple, despite knowing its obligations thereunder, thwarted the Injunction’s goals, and continued its anticompetitive conduct solely to maintain its revenue stream,” the ruling stated.

The order now stops Apple from charging a fee or creating any new technical obstacle for off-app payments. This includes payments using digital assets like Ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC), and Solana (SOL).

After the court ruling, Apple updated its App Store guidelines to include external payment links in iOS apps, subject to specific conditions.

“Apps may allow users to browse NFT collections owned by others, provided that, except for apps on the United States storefront, the apps may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase,” the updated guideline states.

This specifies that only apps on the U.S. storefront can now add external payment links. Developers can thus avoid Apple’s 30% in-app purchase commission by guiding users to outside payment options, including those using cryptocurrencies.

The update has implications for all iOS developers working on apps with digital payment features. Crypto apps can now introduce new tools and payment models using crypto payments without being limited by Apple’s internal system.

Apple's guideline changes also affect how developers use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in iOS apps. Prior to this ruling, Apple had limited NFT-based features that could be unlocked through token ownership.

Now, developers have more leeway to create NFT iOS apps that unlock specific app features through token ownership, in line with the updated App Store policy. The policy allows browsing of NFT collections and, for U.S.-based apps, also enables direct access to NFT purchases through external payment links.

Previously, apps needed to redirect users to external browsers for any NFT transactions. This ruling removes that limitation.

The ruling expands what developers can build with NFT iOS apps, as they can now easily tie together specific app features with NFT ownership, creating new possibilities within Apple's ecosystem.

While developers now have greater freedom with crypto payments, users will still need to undergo Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures to buy tokens. KYC usually involves providing personal identification documents and other details for verification, which can add friction, especially for new crypto users.

The ruling paves the way for smoother integration of crypto wallets and other Web3 services into iOS apps, but the initial onboarding process remains largely outside Apple's control.

Crypto users will still need to rely on external exchanges or wallets to obtain assets like ETH, USDC, or SOL before they can be used in apps, despite the ruling allowing for direct use of these assets in an app after a user has already purchased them.

Developers building NFT iOS apps and other crypto services will continue to operate within the constraints of these KYC requirements, even with the updated Apple App Store guidelines.