Apple Pay (and other digital wallets) use DPANs (Device Primary Account Numbers) instead of actual credit card numbers (FPAN) to protect customer information and reduce cross-merchant tracking. While DPANs change for different merchants, they remain the same for subsequent transactions with the same merchant. Apple Pay technically doesn't completely prevent individual stores from tracking your purchase history. It doesn't hide personal information, and merchants can still collect details like names, addresses, and product information for order fulfillment.

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.