Home | FinTech | Digital Lending / Digital Payments

Apple’s NFC Chip Opens to Third-Party Payments under EU Regulation

June 20, 2024

Image Credit: Pexels

Apple’s NFC Chip Opens to Third-Party Payments under EU Regulation

Apple’s recent decision to open up the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party contactless payment services has garnered approval from the European Union, marking a significant shift in the company’s business practices. This decision forms part of Apple’s compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation crafted to encourage fair competition within the digital market. Introduced with iOS 17.4, this update is significant not only for its practical implications but also for its avoidance of substantial EU-imposed fines. Apple has also included support for third-party app stores in this update, signaling the company’s commitment to adhering to the new regulatory landscape.

The EU’s satisfaction with Apple’s NFC-related modifications signals a positive turn in what could have been a more severe outcome for the tech giant. The end of the probe marks a milestone; Apple has successfully avoided a fine that could have amounted to 10% of its annual revenue, around $40 billion. This regulatory approval means that third-party developers in the European Union can now integrate contactless payment functionalities directly into their apps without relying solely on Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. This new flexibility affords developers greater autonomy and diminishes Apple’s monopoly over iPhone payment services, marking a win for fair competition advocates.

Long-Term Compliance and Persistent Scrutiny

Apple’s recent move to open the iPhone’s NFC chip to third-party contactless payment services has received approval from the European Union, marking a notable shift in the tech giant’s business model. This change is in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation aimed at promoting fair competition in the digital market. Introduced with iOS 17.4, this update not only has practical implications but also helps Apple avoid hefty fines from the EU.

Additionally, Apple has expanded its support to include third-party app stores, demonstrating its commitment to adhering to the new regulatory framework. The EU’s approval of Apple’s changes signals a positive outcome, avoiding a potential fine that could have been as high as 10% of Apple’s annual revenue, or roughly $40 billion.

This regulatory green light means that third-party developers in the European Union can now integrate contactless payment functionalities directly into their apps, bypassing the need to rely solely on Apple Pay or Apple Wallet. This increased flexibility offers developers more control and reduces Apple’s dominance in iPhone payment services, representing a victory for advocates of fair competition in the digital landscape.

Explore more

Why Corporate Wellness Programs Fail to Fix Workplace Stress

February 26, 2026

The modern professional often finds that for every dollar spent on a meditation app by their employer, nearly one hundred and fifty dollars are drained from the global economy due to systemic burnout and disengagement. This economic disparity highlights a growing tension between the wellness industry, which has grown into a juggernaut worth sixty billion dollars, and the eight point

How to Fix the Workplace Communication and Feedback Crisis

February 26, 2026

The silent erosion of professional morale often begins not with a grand failure of strategy but with the subtle, persistent friction caused by poorly articulated managerial guidance. This disconnect between managerial intent and employee performance represents a significant hurdle for modern organizations, as traditional critique methods frequently lead to burnout rather than improvement. Addressing the central challenge of workplace communication

How Can You Close the Feedback Gap to Retain Top Talent?

February 26, 2026

When elite professionals choose to resign, the departure frequently stems from a prolonged absence of meaningful dialogue regarding their trajectory within the organization and the specific expectations surrounding their professional contributions. This silence creates a vacuum where uncertainty flourishes, eventually pushing high achievers toward the exit. Research indicates that nearly half of all employees who voluntarily leave their roles cite

Can AI Infrastructure Redefine Wealth Management?

February 26, 2026

The once-revolutionary promise of digital wealth management has hit a ceiling where simply layering more software atop crumbling legacy systems no longer yields a competitive edge for modern firms. This realization has sparked a fundamental shift in how the industry approaches technology. Instead of pursuing cosmetic updates, firms are now looking at the very bones of their operations to find

Family Office Models Reshape Korean Wealth Management

February 26, 2026

The skyline of Seoul no longer just represents industrial might but also signals a historic accumulation of private capital that is forcing the nation’s most prestigious financial institutions to rewrite their playbooks entirely. The traditional private banking model, once centered on the 1-billion-won investor, is undergoing a radical metamorphosis. As of 2026, a burgeoning class of ultra-wealthy households has redefined