Apple Softens NFT Regulations—Implications for Crypto Developers

Apple has recently allowed external links for purchasing NFTs and accessing secondary marketplaces, although it continues to ban crypto mining and token rewards in applications. This move undermines Apple’s authority over in-app purchases, potentially fostering more competitive behavior in the app market. These updates to Apple’s App Store rules regarding cryptocurrencies and NFTs come in response to a decision from the U.S. District Court in the Epic Games antitrust lawsuit. The legal battle commenced in August 2020 when Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, initiated a lawsuit against Apple. Epic took issue with the App Store’s regulations, labeling them as anti-competitive. The lawsuit centered around Apple’s mandate that all in-app purchases must utilize its proprietary payment system, which included a 30% commission fee. The situation intensified when Epic added a direct payment method in the Fortnite app, prompting Apple to promptly take it down from the App Store for breaching its guidelines. In April 2025, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that Apple had intentionally disregarded a prior injunction issued in 2021. The judge determined that Apple continued to impede developers’ ability to utilize alternative payment systems, despite previous directives against such actions. She criticized Apple for maintaining barriers that hindered competition and passed the case on to federal prosecutors to explore possible charges of criminal contempt. Apple is prohibited from imposing commissions on transactions that occur outside of its ecosystem and must permit payment links from external sources within its applications. Here’s what developers can do moving forward. After the court’s ruling, Apple has revised its policies to allow developers greater freedom in relation to NFTs. According to the updated regulations, applications are now permitted to utilize in-app purchases for services related to NFTs, including minting, listing, and transferring.