Apple Ordered to Remove Crypto App Restrictions, Loses 27% Commission

A federal court has ordered Apple to eliminate restrictions on cryptocurrency app developers following a legal victory by Epic Games. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found Apple in willful violation of a 2021 court injunction on April 30, 2025. The judge ruled that Apple violated previous orders designed to prevent anticompetitive conduct.

Rogers stated that Apple will no longer prevent developers from communicating with users about external payment options. The company cannot charge commissions on purchases made outside its App Store ecosystem. The ruling takes effect immediately across all iOS applications in the United States.

Apple had previously required crypto app developers to apply for special permissions to include external payment links. The company also imposed warning screens and charged a 27% commission on web purchases. Judge Rogers determined these practices violated the 2021 injunction from the original Epic Games antitrust case.

The court decision removes financial barriers that limited crypto app functionality on iOS devices. Developers can now direct users to external NFT marketplaces without paying Apple fees. Gaming applications with crypto elements gained access to fee-free external payment systems.

Mobile crypto games previously used workarounds to avoid Apple's restrictions. Some games hinted that PC versions offered items unavailable in iOS versions. Developers avoided direct links to external crypto payment systems to comply with Apple policies.

The new guidelines allow apps to integrate external wallet connections and NFT browsing features. Crypto commentators described the changes as beneficial for mobile blockchain gaming development. Apps can now openly promote external payment methods where users avoid Apple's commission structure.

The Apple ruling creates new revenue opportunities across the mobile gaming industry. More spending on digital currencies and in-game items will reach companies that create mobile games.

Traditional financial institutions now face increased competition from decentralized payment systems. The ruling allows crypto applications to offer direct payment processing that bypasses conventional banking infrastructure. Users can complete transactions using Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies without converting to fiat currency.

Apple's services division generated $26.6 billion in revenue last quarter, with gross margins around 75% compared to the company average of 47%. Industry analysts expect Apple to lose hundreds of millions in commission income as developers adopt external payment systems. The technology giant may need to develop new revenue streams to offset declining App Store commissions.

The decision reflects broader regulatory pressure on technology companies regarding market dominance. Similar antitrust cases in other jurisdictions could lead to additional changes in mobile app payment policies. Cryptocurrency adoption may accelerate as mobile applications gain access to native blockchain payment integration.