Apple has updated its App Store guidelines to allow in-app cryptocurrency payments, reversing previous restrictions. Following a U.S. federal court ruling in the Epic Games antitrust case, Apple can no longer enforce its in-app purchase system exclusively, which charged up to 30% commission. Developers can now link to external payment methods, including those for cryptocurrencies and NFTs, without Apple’s fee.

However, in-app crypto transactions must still comply with regional licensing and legal requirements, and some restrictions remain, such as bans on offering crypto for tasks like app downloads or social media activity. This change is seen as a boost for DeFi and NFT adoption, with posts on X suggesting it could drive mainstream crypto use, though full in-app crypto support may still face hurdles.

Allowing crypto payments within apps could drive mainstream use, as iOS users can now engage with DeFi, NFTs, and other blockchain-based services directly, potentially onboarding millions to crypto ecosystems. Developers can bypass Apple’s 30% commission by using external crypto payment systems, retaining more revenue and incentivizing the creation of crypto-integrated apps.

The ruling weakens Apple’s control over in-app transactions, fostering competition among payment providers, including crypto platforms, which could lead to lower fees and more options for users. In-app crypto payments must comply with regional laws, which may complicate global app deployments. Developers will need to navigate varying licensing and tax requirements, potentially slowing rollout in some markets.

Seamless crypto payments could enhance user convenience, but restrictions (e.g., bans on crypto for app downloads or social media tasks) and wallet integration challenges may limit full adoption. The policy supports NFT transactions, boosting blockchain gaming and digital collectibles on iOS, though Apple’s guidelines still impose some limitations on NFT functionality. Analysts suggest this could spur crypto market growth, as easier access to in-app crypto payments may increase transaction volumes and demand for tokens.

Challenges remain, including technical integration, user education, and regulatory compliance, which could temper the pace of adoption. The lifting of Apple’s ban on in-app cryptocurrency payments creates a divide in perspectives, stakeholders, and outcomes. Developers celebrate greater freedom to integrate crypto payments and bypass Apple’s 30% commission, enabling higher profits and innovation in blockchain-based apps (e.g., DeFi, NFTs, gaming). However, they face challenges in navigating complex regional regulations and ensuring seamless wallet integration.

Apple loses some control over in-app transactions and revenue from its payment system. While Apple still enforces compliance with legal requirements and retains some restrictions (e.g., no crypto for app downloads), the ruling dilutes its walled-garden model, potentially pressuring its App Store profitability.

Crypto Advocates vs. Traditional Finance

View this as a watershed moment for mainstream adoption, with X posts highlighting the potential for millions of iOS users to engage with crypto, boosting DeFi and NFT ecosystems. It aligns with the ethos of decentralization and financial sovereignty. Traditional Finance may see this as a threat to established payment systems, with banks and payment processors potentially losing market share to crypto alternatives. Regulatory bodies might also push back, citing concerns over money laundering or tax evasion.

Crypto-Savvy Users benefit from easier access to in-app crypto transactions, enabling seamless interaction with blockchain apps. However, they may face friction from incomplete wallet support or restrictive Apple guidelines. Mainstream Users could be introduced to crypto through familiar apps, but lack of education, complex UX (e.g., setting up wallets), and volatility risks might deter adoption. The divide between early adopters and cautious newcomers could widen.

The policy opens doors for crypto innovation worldwide, particularly in crypto-friendly regions. It could accelerate blockchain app development and drive token economies. Regional strict regulations in some countries (e.g., China, India) may limit implementation, creating a patchwork of availability. Developers must tailor apps to comply with local laws, potentially fragmenting the user experience.

Posts on X suggest this could “moon” crypto markets, with in-app payments driving transaction volumes and mainstream exposure. They see it as a step toward mass adoption. Analysts argue that Apple’s remaining restrictions, technical hurdles (e.g., wallet integration), and regulatory complexity could slow progress. Some believe the impact will be limited to niche use cases like NFTs or gaming.

The move fuels crypto innovation but invites stricter oversight, as governments may tighten rules to address tax compliance, fraud, or consumer protection. While the policy makes crypto more accessible, the technical and legal complexities of in-app crypto payments could exclude non-tech-savvy users or smaller developers. Immediate excitement may overstate short-term impacts, as full adoption depends on overcoming UX, regulatory, and scalability challenges.

In a significant turning point for Nigeria’s largest telecom operator, MTN Nigeria has reported that data revenue outpaced voice income for the first time in its history, marking a significant shift in consumer behavior and the structure of telecom revenue in the country.

According to the company’s unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2025, MTN earned N529.4 billion from data services, representing a 51.5 percent year-on-year increase compared to N349.5 billion recorded in Q1 2024. Voice revenue, which traditionally held the lion’s share of earnings, stood at N407.4 billion, now clearly trailing behind.

This development comes as the telco’s total service revenue hit N1.05 trillion, reflecting a 40.5 percent growth from the same quarter last year. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, data earnings rose by 17 percent, while voice revenue climbed by 15.5 percent, reinforcing the momentum behind Nigeria’s data-driven telecom market.

While MTN attributes the growth in data revenue to factors such as network investments, rising smartphone penetration, and increased average usage per subscriber — now at 12.8GB per user — some analysts are pointing to a more immediate trigger: the recent approval of data and voice tariff hikes by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Tariff Adjustment Driving Behavioral Shift

In March 2025, mobile operators implemented a modest increase in data and voice tariffs following approval by the NCC, citing operational cost pressures driven by inflation, currency devaluation, and persistent energy challenges. The price hike is believed to have forced many subscribers to rethink how they communicate and consume services.

Although data prices have also risen, voice call charges have increased proportionately, leading many users to pivot to more cost-effective, internet-based alternatives such as WhatsApp, for voice communication. This shift is believed to have been reflected in MTN’s Q1 results, which show data traffic increasing by 46.4 percent and smartphone penetration rising to 60.7 percent, following the addition of approximately four million new smartphones to the network.

Industry analysts believe that many Nigerians are now relying more heavily on data bundles to access multiple services rather than spending on traditional voice airtime — a trend that is unlikely to reverse anytime soon.

Continued Momentum Expected in Q2

With the Q2 period already underway, analysts predict that MTN’s data revenue will continue to rise, as the full effect of the tariff hike continues to shape user behavior. The growing entry-level smartphones, alongside MTN’s investments in network expansion, especially in its 4G and 5G infrastructure, are expected to sustain — if not accelerate — this trajectory.

MTN’s 4G coverage expanded to 82.7 percent of the population in Q1 2025, while 5G coverage held at 12.7 percent, with the company prioritizing capacity enhancements over fresh rollouts. Its efforts to dominate the home broadband space also continued, with 233,000 new subscribers added during the quarter, bringing its total broadband user base to 3.5 million. Much of this growth was driven by the company’s 5G fixed wireless access and fiber-to-the-home services.

“These efforts align with our commitment to expanding broadband access and accelerating digital inclusion across Nigeria,” the company said.

MTN’s strong Q1 performance signals a broader transition that may reshape how telecoms operate and price their services in Nigeria. As voice revenue stagnates, data is becoming the new battleground, not just for earnings, but also for user loyalty and market share.

President Donald Trump on Sunday, announced a slap of a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films imported into the United States, marking a dramatic escalation in his ongoing trade crusade — this time extending deep into the cultural and entertainment spheres.

While his administration has long railed against foreign trade practices, the move now seeks to bring the global film industry under the same protectionist lens, with implications likely to reverberate through Hollywood more than anywhere else.

“The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death. Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!”

Although the post did not single out any particular country, trade observers and studio executives see the measure as a direct response to China’s tightening control over its domestic entertainment market. In recent years, Beijing has implemented its own form of protectionism against Hollywood, drastically limiting the number of American films allowed into its theaters and giving preferential treatment to homegrown productions. The move was aimed at promoting local cinema and insulating cultural narratives from outside influence — a policy that, by design, undermined U.S. studios’ long-standing dominance.

Hollywood, which once reigned as a global cinematic powerhouse, has watched its influence in China shrink. Between 2011 and 2019, China’s box office revenues skyrocketed from under $1 billion to over $9 billion, with American blockbusters like Fast & Furious and Avengers: Endgame generating jaw-dropping returns. The latter film alone grossed $632 million in China — more than its earnings in most other markets combined. Despite only pocketing about 25% of Chinese box office receipts, studios saw the volume as too lucrative to ignore.

But that era of dominance has faded. Today, Chinese films dominate the local market, accounting for around 80% of total box office earnings — a sharp increase from the 60% share held before the COVID-19 pandemic. The shift is more than economic; it signals a cultural recalibration. Local audiences, once captivated by the scale and spectacle of Hollywood fare, are now flocking to homegrown stories that reflect Chinese experiences and values. American films, once event staples in Chinese theaters, are now often delayed, censored, or excluded altogether.

Trump’s tariff appears crafted not only as retaliation but also as a preemptive move to reposition American filmmaking in a world where its cultural exports are no longer guaranteed dominance.

“Hollywood, and many other areas within the U.S.A., are being devastated,” he wrote. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat.”

The tariff, if implemented, will have sweeping consequences. While China is the assumed primary target, the measure will apply globally — impacting countries like India and Nigeria, whose burgeoning film industries trail Hollywood in scale but are gaining international attention. Nollywood, for instance, has become a force in African and diaspora markets, while India’s Bollywood continues to churn out hundreds of films annually with a significant global footprint.

Still, Hollywood itself is expected to feel the sharpest sting. For decades, major studios have relied on foreign locations for filming and post-production, drawn by tax incentives and lower labor costs in cities like Toronto, London, Budapest, and Johannesburg. These films, although American in origin and direction, would fall under the new tariff umbrella if produced outside U.S. borders — potentially adding significant costs to the final product.

The entertainment industry, still recovering from a post-pandemic slump, has already seen movie ticket sales in the U.S. fall far below their 2018 peak of nearly $12 billion. In 2020, revenue plummeted to just over $2 billion due to theater closures. Although box office numbers have improved since, they remain well below pre-COVID levels, while fewer major releases and the dominance of streaming continue to alter viewer behavior.

Studios, which increasingly depend on streaming platforms to recoup investment, may struggle to absorb new tariff-related costs. Despite Disney+ and Max recently posting their first profits, most streaming networks, with the exception of Netflix — continue to operate at a loss.

Trade experts also note the legal ambiguity of Trump’s proposal. Because films are considered intellectual property rather than physical goods, current U.S. trade laws don’t easily accommodate tariffs on them. Services like film are typically governed under separate international trade frameworks, meaning any attempt to impose import duties could provoke disputes or retaliation under World Trade Organization rules.