Why Apple Is Quietly Building a Payment Network for In-App Purchases

In this milestone 50th episode, Lucas and Luna unpack Apple's quiet but strategic expansion of its in-app payment infrastructure. With Apple Pay now processing over $6 trillion annually and the company introducing direct carrier billing and a new subscription API for developers, Apple is positioning itself as a full-stack financial intermediary rather than just a platform gatekeeper. The hosts examine the implications for app developers, the likely regulatory response in the EU and US, and whether Apple's payments ambitions could eventually challenge traditional card networks. Specific examples include the new StoreKit External Purchase API and the impact on subscription-based apps like Calm and Headspace. A focused, numbers-driven look at how Apple is redefining the economics of the App Store. #ApplePay #InAppPurchases #AppStore #PaymentNetwork #CarrierBilling #SubscriptionAPI #StoreKit #Antitrust #Regulation #DigitalPayments #Fintech #DeveloperEconomics #Lucas #Luna #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #MacAndApple Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo