Apple’s Crypto Shift Points to Web3 Growth, Says Mythos; Platform Hits 90K Users

• The Mythos Foundation and other experts view Apple’s revised App Store guidelines as a step toward the mainstream adoption of Web3 gaming.
• Experts believe the changes will open the door for more Web3 possibilities on iOS, which has over one billion active iPhone users.
• The Mythos Foundation welcomed over 90,000 active users on its marketplace in April.

The Mythos Foundation has pointed to Apple’s recent changes to its App Store guidelines regarding crypto and NFTs as a sign of the increasing mainstream adoption of Web3 gaming.

The comments follow a court ruling that forced Apple to allow app developers to offer non-standard purchasing methods and display digital collectibles within their apps.

Experts believe the change has opened a new frontier for Web3 adoption on one of the world’s biggest platforms.

Apple’s Shift on Crypto and NFTs

On Wednesday, April 30, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple had intentionally violated a 2021 court order stemming from its legal battle with Epic Games.

The judge accused Apple’s Vice President of Finance, Alex Roman, of having “outright lied” about the company’s imposition of a 27% fee on certain App Store purchases.

In response to the ruling, Apple was ordered to revise its App Store policies to allow developers to promote alternative methods for purchasing or subscribing to app content.

For the first time, iOS developers can now direct users to external purchasing methods, which icnlude crypto payments and NFT marketplaces, without needing to pay a 30% tax.

According to an internal email obtained by Decrypt , Apple informed iOS developers in the U.S. that apps can now include buttons, links, and other prompts enabling users to explore NFT collections owned by others.

Additionally, the email stated that U.S. apps can now encourage users to utilize payment methods outside of Apple’s in-app purchase system.

A Boost for Web3 Gaming

The Mythos Foundation, an initiative launched by Mythical Games to support Web3 adoption, viewed the ruling as a positive development for the space.

“Apple’s recent revision of App Store guidelines for crypto and NFTs highlights the growing momentum of Web3 gaming adoption,” the organization stated on X.

Previously, developers were restricted from offering NFTs or crypto transactions directly to users on iPhones.

Joseph Zammit, Chief Marketing Officer at crypto banking company CrossFi, hailed the change as a breakthrough for Web3 developers.

“Whether it’s purchasing an in-game item with Bitcoin or buying an NFT within an app, Apple will no longer claim a cut from those external transactions,” Zammit wrote on LinkedIn . “Removing the infamous ‘Apple tax’ on crypto and NFT sales is a game-changer for monetization.”

Zammit believes this newfound flexibility, combined with Apple’s iOS ecosystem, which includes over 1 billion active iPhone users globally, will dramatically expand access to Web3 gaming.

“Game developers can now integrate NFTs as in-game assets or enable play-to-earn models on iOS without being constrained by Apple’s fee structure or previous bans,” Zammit added.

“We could soon see games where players truly own their characters or equipment as NFTs, and freely trade them on mobile marketplaces.”

Mythos Marketplace Reaches Ninety Thousand Monthly Users

On Tuesday, May 12, the Mythos Foundation announced that the Mythos Marketplace recorded over 90,000 monthly active users in April.

Web3 gaming in 2025 has focused on popular titles.

Mythical Games is at the forefront of this trend, gaining traction with NFL Rivals and generating buzz with the upcoming release of FIFA Rivals, a Web3 football game developed under the official FIFA license.

“All this before FIFA Rivals and PlayPudgyParty even go live,” the company wrote. “By the end of 2025, Web3 gaming will be impossible to ignore.”

Elsewhere, French media powerhouse Banijay and blockchain company Anonymous Labs made headlines with the announcement of an AAA Web3 game based on the hit TV series Peaky Blinders.

The game is expected to feature immersive action gameplay, digital collectibles, and a token-based in-game economy.