What to Know
- Apple approved the iOS game SaruTobi for in-app Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network.
- Lightning Network enables ultra-fast, low-cost crypto transactions, bypassing Apple’s 30% in-app purchase fees.
- Regulatory pressure from the EU’s Digital Markets Act and the Epic Games vs Apple ruling might have influenced the decision.
Apple has officially approved Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network in an iOS gaming app. This is the first time the tech giant has allowed this in its tightly controlled ecosystem. For years, Apple tightly controlled in-app purchases, making developers use its payment system and pay high fees. But recent court decisions made Apple let SaruTobi use an outside provider, ZBD, to add Bitcoin Lightning payments without breaking App Store rules.
Crypto Meets Casual iOS Gaming
In May 2025, Apple Inc. lifted its iOS restrictions that previously banned in-app purchases involving Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This means that apps on the App Store can now directly process crypto payments and NFTs. Also, crypto apps won’t have to pay the 30% Apple tax on in-app purchases anymore. This could let crypto-related apps use more aggressive marketing strategies. This change in Apple’s stance on digital assets is significant, and it is likely to have a big effect on the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
SaruTobi first came out in 2013, and now it’s back in the App Store with a new twist: players can earn or spend satoshis for things they do in the game, like retries or power-ups. The Lightning Network makes it easy to use, and transactions are quick and cheap. The app doesn’t store any user money. André Neves, ZBD’s CTO, called the approval “a historic shift,” saying that new payment technology and more regulatory pressure were to blame.
What’s Driving Broader Change
This moment makes it clear: Apple is gradually opening its platform to Web3 innovation, albeit carefully. Developers can now direct users to external sites for digital asset purchases, bypassing Apple’s fees. Smart app designers are coming up with ways around this, such as letting people buy things on the web. Not perfect, but it shows that Web3 on iOS is becoming more creative and in demand. SaruTobi may serve as a test case for more crypto-friendly App Store regulations, according to analysts and Web3 proponents, particularly in the gaming, DeFi, and NFT domains.
What’s Next for Crypto on iOS?
The fact that Apple has approved Bitcoin Lightning payments will now encourage more app developers to incorporate crypto payment methods into their services and games. This implies that players will soon be able to use Bitcoin to pay for in-game purchases, subscriptions, or upgrades without ever leaving the app or utilizing a third-party payment processor.
The development may result in more iOS lifestyle, banking, and e-commerce apps that accept Bitcoin payments in addition to gaming. Apps that allow you to order food, stream video, or make vacation reservations may soon accept Bitcoin Lightning transactions. With this change, using crypto would be as simple as using Apple Pay one day.
Other major platforms and app stores may soon reconsider their regulations in the crypto space as a direct result of Apple’s decision. If additional businesses follow suit, there may be a competition to create crypto payment systems that are quicker, less expensive, and simpler to use across mobile ecosystems. This has the potential to normalize the use of apps for Bitcoin and other digital assets.
Final Thoughts: Apple’s SaruTobi Move Signals New Era
Apple’s approval of SaruTobi with integrated Bitcoin Lightning payments represents the first real step toward mainstream crypto functionality on iOS. The door is now open for more innovation, even though there is only one app available right now.
The crypto ecosystem is one step closer to being widely used on mobile devices as developers struggle for freedom and authorities fight against app store monopolies. Apple’s action may start a new era of user-controlled, decentralized apps, whether they be for tokenized services, gaming, or banking, and could be accomplished without sacrificing usability or compliance.
Also Read: Bitcoin Price Nears All-Time High After Breaking $122K Resistance.
