Will Apple's iMessage feature for Bitcoin change the next cryptocurrency adoption cycle?

According to a recent market update, Apple's iMessage may soon allow users to transfer Bitcoin directly, which could bring cryptocurrency into the hands of a large number of Apple Pay users.

Data from the industry shows that around 1.56 billion people will use iPhones by 2025, accounting for about 19% of the total number of smartphones worldwide. Additionally, it is expected that around 624 million people will own Apple Pay accounts globally by 2025.

Integrating a Bitcoin payment feature in iMessage would immediately tap into this accessibility. Currently, Apple has not officially announced any tools related to Bitcoin.

Cryptocurrency analysts have pointed out the importance of this development: even if just a small percentage of users in Apple's network start using Bitcoin, this could change the cryptocurrency adoption cycle in the future.

Integrate BTC into Apple Pay iMessage

In recent news about Bitcoin, a developer has confirmed the launch of an iMessage wallet app for Bitcoin. On September 23, 2025, Macadamia Wallet, a Lightning wallet based on Cashu, released version 0.4.0, adding an extension for iMessage that allows for Bitcoin “eCash” payments.

The Cashu protocol is a Chaumian eCash layer built on Bitcoin, allowing for private Lightning transactions. Reports from the forum confirm that users can now “send ecash tokens to other Apple users” via iMessage.

In fact, this means that iPhone owners can send Bitcoin ( through Lightning/Cashu) directly via Apple's Messages app without the need for external links.

News observers of Bitcoin also noted the change in Apple's policy towards cryptocurrency. In May 2025, a U.S. judge ordered Apple to allow external cryptocurrency payment links in apps and to waive fees for cryptocurrency transactions outside of the app.

This decision, combined with Apple's existing iMessage framework, has paved the way for Bitcoin payments in conversations – although Apple has yet to promote this feature.

Apple Ecosystem and the Rise of Cryptocurrency

Apple's ecosystem can amplify any new Bitcoin feature. Apple Pay has rapidly grown, with an estimated 624 million users globally by 2025, and is accepted at over 90% of retailers in the US.

However, Apple has always kept its distance from cryptocurrencies: apart from wallets that only support Bitcoin and the Circle app, Apple restricts cryptocurrencies in its App Store.

A recent court ruling is easing these regulations, but Apple’s focus remains on security and encryption, such as the update of PQC encryption in iMessage. Any Bitcoin integration in iMessage will have to operate within these limits.

Apple's efforts to promote mobile payments demonstrate how quickly new technologies can spread. For context, global cryptocurrency adoption remains modest by mainstream standards.

An analysis in 2025 shows that the global cryptocurrency ownership rate is about 12.4% among adults with internet access. Nearly 982 million cryptocurrency-related mobile wallets have been installed globally by 2025, an increase of 13.8% compared to the previous year.

The highest acceptance occurs in certain regions of Asia and the Middle East: for example, the United Arab Emirates reports that 30.4% of their population owns cryptocurrency.

Even in the US, the market penetration rate is very diverse. A survey shows that 53 million Americans own cryptocurrency (, 15.6% of the population ), while other surveys indicate that about 28% of adults in the US will hold cryptocurrency by 2025.

If just a small fraction of the 1.56 billion iPhone users of Apple start using Bitcoin in Messages, this will immediately add hundreds of millions of participants to the market.

Does the application affect the price?

In comparison, recent Bitcoin price increases have primarily been driven by large capital inflows from institutions. For instance, North America recorded $2.2 trillion in cryptocurrency market trading volume over the past year, reflecting strong but concentrated demand among existing users and ETFs.

Now, the integration of technology can attract new consumer groups. Mobile and social platforms have historically driven waves of adoption like Venmo, Apple Pay, or even mobile internet.

In this context, transferring Bitcoin through iMessage would represent a new approach. So, could the Bitcoin feature in iMessage mark the next cycle? It could become a catalyst, but there are still many other factors to consider.

The technical infrastructure already exists – Lightning-based wallets – and the easing of regulations requested by the Apple judge has facilitated the deployment of this feature.

Mr. Teacher