Apple's new iOS web distribution feature is a new way to distribute iOS apps in EU markets without the need for a separate app store. App developers considering the option will need to adhere to Apple's strict rules. It will allow apps to be installed from website domains registered with App Store Connect. Apple appears to be limiting the option to large developers with a good standing around for at least two years.

The European Parliament's major committees have approved a ban on anonymous cryptocurrency transactions through hosted wallets. This aligns with the new Anti-Money Laundering legislation, which puts restrictions on cash transactions and anonymous digital payments. The ban specifically targets custodial crypto wallets offered by third-party providers. The decision sparked controversy in the space with some arguing that this is privacy infringement and others arguing that it isn’t a big deal.

Apple planned to disable Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in iOS for European users, citing EU regulations as a cause. However, these changes sparked criticism and threats of investigation by the European Commission. Apple has now reversed course, restoring PWA functionality, but states that PWAs will still need to be built on WebKit to comply with Apple's security and privacy standards.

AltStore PAL, a third-party iOS app store, is now live in the EU. Access to the store costs €1.50 (plus tax) per year to cover Apple's Core Technology Fee for installing the marketplace. AltStore PAL will integrate its marketplace with Patreon for monetization. It will support developers who want to distribute beta apps as a reward for crowd-sourced funding. AltStore PAL is open to submissions from third-party developers.

The EU is investigating TikTok's potential violation of the Digital Services Act. It is focusing on TikTok Lite's "task and reward" feature, which could harm users' mental health, particularly minors, due to the lack of a risk assessment. If found guilty, TikTok could face penalties of up to 6% of its global annual turnover. Interim measures like suspending TikTok Lite's access are being considered.

A draft of the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulations describes MEV as a type of market abuse as it allows a validator to front-run transactions to make a profit. If passed, EU-based crypto organizations would be required to detect and report MEV. Two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Justice appeared to distinguish between acceptable MEV and market abuse in an indictment over MEV bot fraud.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino is concerned about the EU's MiCA regulation for stablecoins. He asserts that the new requirements complicate stablecoin operations and increase their vulnerability and risk. In other news, Binance has announced plans to restrict "unauthorized" stablecoins in Europe to comply with MiCA, potentially affecting other exchanges and the accessibility of stablecoins like USDT.

Apple's Messages app will support RCS in iOS 18. It will replace SMS as the default communication protocol between Android and iOS devices. RCS offers typing indicators, read receipts, longer messages, and higher-quality images and videos. Apple likely integrated the protocol to appease EU regulators.

The European Commission has opened an investigation into Apple's support for alternative iOS marketplaces in Europe. The investigation is focused on Apple's Core Technology Fee, the multistep process required for users to install third-party marketplaces, and Apple's eligibility requirements for developers. Regulators say that Apple's App Store 'steering' policies violate the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple is the first company to be charged under the DMA rules - it can respond to the European Conformation's preliminary assessment ahead of its final ruling before March 2025. Apple could be fined up to 10% of its annual global revenue for infringement.

Regulators argue Meta's new ad model fails to offer a less personalized alternative as required by the Digital Markets Act.

Circle has announced that its stablecoins, USDC and EURC, are now compliant with the new EU stablecoin regulations (MiCA), making it the first global stablecoin issuer to meet these standards. Effective immediately, Circle is issuing these stablecoins directly to European customers from its French headquarters, making USDC the leading regulated digital dollar in the EU market and enabling high growth for Euro digital currencies.

Apple has given approval for the Epic Games store for iOS in the EU. Epic's submission was rejected twice previously. The latest decision was reversed just hours after reports started circulating about it. Apple objected to Epic's inclusion of a download button and related copy and has asked the company to fix the buttons in a future submission of the app. Epic still has a lot of work before its app store will be ready - it plans to bring the store to iOS in the next couple of months.

The European Commission has issued a new request for information to Amazon regarding its advertising practices and recommender systems, highlighting a push for greater transparency under the Digital Services Act. This scrutiny could lead to more transparent ad targeting and potentially fairer competition on Amazon's platform.

Meta will withhold its next multimodal AI model from customers in the EU because of a lack of clarity from regulators. Apple has also said it won't release its Apple Intelligence features in Europe because of similar concerns. Meta plans to incorporate its new multimodal models in a wide range of products, including smartphones and its Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. The upcoming larger text-only version of Meta's Llama 3 model will be available in the EU.

Meta will withhold future multimodal AI models from EU customers due to regulatory uncertainties, although a text-only version of Llama 3 will be available.

TikTok has withdrawn its “Task and reward” feature, which allowed users to earn points for in-app activities that could be exchanged for Amazon vouchers. This feature raised concerns about stimulating addictive behavior among young users. TikTok has agreed not to reintroduce the feature under a different guise and could face significant penalties if it fails to comply. The EC will monitor TikTok's adherence to these commitments. A separate investigation into TikTok's main app's algorithm and its potential harmful effects is still ongoing.

Apple will let apps offer NFC functionality through the Secure Element on iOS devices starting with iOS 18.1. Developers will have to pay fees to access payments and secure transactions. iPhone users will be able to set the default payment app triggered by double-clicking the side button. Apple's move to open up its contactless system broadly follows its settlement with the European Commission as part of an antitrust action.

Fortnite is now back on iOS, but only in the EU. Epic has launched its games store on iOS (EU only) and Android. It currently only has three games, but Epic is working on bringing developers into its store. Fortnite was pulled from the Apple App Store four years ago, resulting in a legal battle that loosened Apple's grip on its platform but kept the status quo for the most part.