Coinbase Brings Apple Pay Crypto Buys to Third-Party Apps

On Monday, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase announced a major integration with Apple Pay, enabling software developers to build direct fiat-to-crypto purchasing features straight into their own third-party mobile applications.

Simplifying the Fiat-to-Crypto Pipeline

This new feature is powered by Coinbase Onramp, a specialized service designed to help developers offer their users a straightforward way to convert traditional fiat currencies, such as USD, into digital assets. Historically, this onboarding process has been notoriously cumbersome, forcing users to navigate multiple external websites, manage complex transfers, and pay cumulative transaction fees.

By integrating Apple Pay, Coinbase aims to eliminate these friction points, lowering the barrier to entry and making cryptocurrency purchases far more accessible to everyday retail consumers.

A Shift in Apple’s Crypto Stance?

This integration suggests that Apple may be warming up to the cryptocurrency sector, potentially signaling a pivotal shift in the tech giant’s historically tense relationship with the web3 ecosystem.

This apparent change of heart coincides with a transformative political landscape. Following the U.S. election, President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that his incoming administration will adopt a much friendlier regulatory approach toward digital assets. This pro-crypto sentiment has already pushed the price of bitcoin to nearly $100,000. Adding to the momentum, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler officially announced he will step down when Trump takes office, effectively ending a multi-year regulatory crackdown on the industry.

The History of Apple’s Crypto Restrictions

Apple’s relationship with the crypto world has been fraught with conflict. In 2022, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong publicly criticized the iPhone maker, suggesting its restrictive App Store policies raised antitrust concerns. Armstrong revealed at the time that Apple had actively blocked specific features within the Coinbase mobile app.

This friction dates back several years. When Apple launched its proprietary credit card in 2019, the company explicitly banned cardholders from purchasing cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, Apple has a track record of removing blockchain, NFT, and crypto-related applications from its App Store. Earlier this year, the Cupertino-based giant pulled major global exchanges—including Binance and Kraken—from its App Store in India following local regulatory pressures.

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Tim Cook’s Evolving Perspective

Despite these strict corporate policies, Apple executives have previously hinted at curiosity regarding digital assets. In a 2021 interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed he was looking into enabling Apple Pay to purchase crypto, even sharing that he personally owns cryptocurrency. However, Cook emphasized at the time that the company intended to keep its core business operations at arm’s length from the highly volatile market.