Apple Has New App Store Rules For NFTs, Cryptocurrency

Apple has announced updates to the App Store Review Guidelines, offering guidance for apps offering cryptocurrency and NFTs. Apple Insider reports: The text for the rule has been changed to include the following: "Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency wallets, etc." The rule change is no surprise, as Apple only allows alternative payment systems in certain countries.

An addition to the 3.11 rule is as follows: "Apps may use in-app purchase to sell and sell services related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), such as minting, listing, and transferring. Apps may allow users to view their own NFTs, provided that NFT ownership does not unlock features or functionality within the app. Apps may allow users to browse NFT collections owned by others, provided that the apps may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase."

Finally, Apple has revised rule 3.1.5(iii) to include cryptocurrency exchanges. These companies let people buy and sell cryptocurrencies using traditional fiat currency. "Exchanges: Apps may facilitate transactions or transmissions of cryptocurrency on an approved exchange, provided they are offered only in countries or regions where the app has appropriate licensing and permissions to provide a cryptocurrency exchange."

Apple In Short: Pay us our cut

[SmaryJerry]

Basically Apple doesn't want to allow any loophole that would let apps accept forms of payment in crypto for any purpose because then they don't get paid.. This seems like a huge blow to crypto's potential use cases on mobile phones. However, maybe we are going back to the days where a browser was the best way to access a service or website. I would guess any game that uses crypto as a currency would get banned from the app store given the wording "Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality."

Re: Apple In Short: Pay us our cut

[RegistrationIsDumb83]

Maybe web page app will make a come back. But... it's curious how Apple only allows one browser engine in their OS. So if they want to clamp down, they can do it there, too.

Finally my ugly monkey pic links have a home!

[thesjaakspoiler]

I was so excited that I printed out the url link to my ugly monkey pic which the artist didn't spent more than 5 minutes working on.
I wasn't able to print out the picture are I don't even own that.
But links in this world are precious.

Might Not Last Long

[NoWayNoShapeNoForm]

I heard that Apple is having trouble holding on to Chief Technology Officers...or whatever the fruit cargo cult calls the chief dreamer at The Infinite Loop.

New Rule (in the style of Bill Maher)

[Felix Baum]

Apple will allow commerce in a massively growing sector of global commerce as long as you cannot offer any methods...to avoid the Apple Tax. Apple will allow commerce using alternative forms of currency as long as you do not offer methods...to avoid the Apple Tax. Furthermore, Apple will allow these radical world-changing decentralized technology choices to absolutely anyone as long as they reside in a single location covering 0.66 percent of the world population.