Apple Approves First iOS Game With Bitcoin Lightning Payments

Apple has approved SaruTobi, the first iOS game to integrate Bitcoin Lightning payments for in-game microtransactions. This move marks a significant shift in Apple's approach to cryptocurrency, which has historically been restrictive. The game, originally launched in 2013, was removed from the App Store due to its Bitcoin integration but has now returned with support from the Lightning infrastructure provider ZBD. This development allows users to make real-money Bitcoin microtransactions directly within the game, earning satoshis—the smallest unit of Bitcoin—while playing or spending them on in-game features like retries and power-ups. All transactions are facilitated through the Lightning Network, enabling low-cost, instant payments.

The approval of SaruTobi comes after recent legal and regulatory shifts, including the Epic Games v. Apple ruling and the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. These changes have forced Apple to allow alternatives to its in-app purchase system, complying with new regulations that demand broader payment system flexibility for app developers. ZBD CTO André Neves described the approval as a turning point, signaling that digital payment models on iOS are beginning to shift. Apple’s decision to approve Bitcoin Lightning payments follows rising global pressure on its closed ecosystem, indicating a potential trend for further apps to follow suit.

SaruTobi uses the Lightning Network for both its payouts and transactions, without holding any user funds inside the app itself. This aligns with current App Store policies, which allow the app to use an external payments provider for crypto. The update shows that developers can now work within the current legal boundaries to add Bitcoin-related functions for Apple users. While SaruTobi currently stands as the only approved game with this feature, the development suggests that Apple may be open to more crypto-related functionalities in the future. However, it is important to note that Apple’s acceptance does not allow full Bitcoin wallets or decentralized apps, but it now enables limited crypto functions embedded inside conventional games.