Apple’s Tightening Rules Around NFTs May Limit Web3 Adoption

• According to John L. Baptiste, the former CEO of Onswipe, Apple’s new NFT rules could limit web3 adoption 
• Apple has officially introduced new NFT rules that are up for debate among several crypto proponents.

Tech giant Apple has issued a new NFT guideline strictly demarcating the areas that users can explore in the NFT domain. The firm is not cutting down on its 30% tax on in-app purchases and has barred any NFTs acquired from elsewhere from being used for anything other than viewing.

Apple’s New Rules May Suffocate NFT Startups

As reported by the Information last month, Apple’s brutal stance against NFTs by charging a 30% tax on in-app purchases is deterring several marketplaces and creators of NFTs/NFT startups from exploring the ecosystem to its full potential.

Some game publishers are still cautious about web3 integrations. @Ubisoft has walked back on their initial bullish comments towards NFTs. @Apple seems to be sticking with its 30% tax on in-app #NFT purchases, despite likelihood that it will limit web3 adoption.

In a new blog post updated on October 24, Apple has once again clarified its stance on NFTs, adding that the tech giant is not levelling down and has introduced a new set of rules for the NFT domain.

As per the new update, Apple is allowing users to explore in-app purchases of NFTs.

The update further states that Apple will permit users to sell services related to NFTs. However, Apple will not allow users to unlock features or functionalities within the app to be used for services other than for browsing and viewing.

Added to 3.1.1: “Apps may use in-app purchase to sell and sell services related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), such as minting, listing, and transferring.” <= In App Purchase tech is not built to enable dynamic pricing of NFTs. They want you to use tech that can’t handle NFTs.

“Apps may use in-app purchases 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. ” The post later adds 

Apple has also introduced a new restriction where apps will not be able to include buttons, calls to action, or external links to allow users to navigate out of its ecosystem. The update also states that the tech giant is restricting apps from using functionalities such as QR codes, cryptocurrency, and cryptocurrency wallets to unlock additional functionality within the apps.

Revised 3.1.1: “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.” <= Token/NFT gated apps are dead. Doesn’t matter if bought on your own site.

Jason L. Baptiste, the former CEO of OnSwipe, has referred to the new Apple rules as an emerging threat to the web3 domain. Baptiste noted how the new Apple rules may threaten Web3 proponents, especially game developers.

Who does this hurt the most? Game developers embracing Web3, NFTs, crypto, etc. Why would Apple focus on this? Follow the money. 60-70% of Apple’s App Store revenue comes from gaming. Web3 threatens that.

Baptiste later shared how Apple’s first official stance on NFT and crypto does not embrace the particular sector but rather sees it as a potential threat.

The big takeaway is that this is Apple’s largest and maybe first official stance on Crypto, NFTs, and Web3. It does not embrace it, but sees Web3 as a threat. This is a step in the wrong direction from both a policy and technology standpoint. cc @TimSweeneyEpic @ballmatthew

Image:Bangyu Wang/Unsplash

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