On Aug. 14, Apple revealed that it will now permit third-party applications to use its NFC (Near Field Communication) technology for transactions. This update will allow alternative payment systems to compete with Apple Pay—the iPhone’s dominant payment option.
The announcement follows extensive regulatory pressure from entities such as the European Union. Apple confirmed the new feature will be available with the upcoming iOS 18.1 update. With this version, developers can use NFC contactless transactions through the Secure Element (SE) in their apps, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.
The USDC Tap-to-Pay application will utilize Apple’s newly available NFC technology for third-party developers. This change will enable various wallet apps, including those for Web3 or crypto, to use NFC for transactions.
According to Allaire, iOS wallets supporting USDC could streamline payments by allowing devices to exchange transaction information through a simple tap. For instance, a point-of-sale (PoS) system could communicate the iPhone’s blockchain address or payment amount, prompting the user to confirm the transaction using FaceID or another authentication method. The app would then process the payment via blockchain.
Allaire suggested that this development could facilitate direct USDC payments to merchants and enable transactions for other digital assets, such as NFTs or stablecoins like EURC. Hence, he encouraged wallet developers to integrate the latest Apple iOS SDKs in preparation for the USDC Tap-to-Pay launch.
.
Stablecoin giant Tether has dramatically escalated its enforcement activity after blacklisting 370 blockchain addresses and freezing approximately $514.64 million worth…
Crypto exchange giant Coinbase experienced a major service outage that disrupted trading, transfers, and exchange operations after…
Cross-chain messaging protocol LayerZero has publicly apologized for its handling of the massive Kelp DAO exploitthat drained approximately $292…
Executives from PayPal and Google Cloud said the future of “agentic commerce” — where AI agents autonomously buy goods,…
Crypto exchange giant Kraken is making a major move deeper into the U.S. financial system after its…
A major national security scandal has erupted in Taiwan after prosecutors indicted a Taiwanese news…