The seemingly indestructible wall has recently been breached.

On December 18, the "Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Law" of the Japan Fair Trade Commission officially came into effect, prompting Apple to adjust its App Store policies in Japan overnight. Not only does it allow users to install third-party app stores, but it also significantly reduces the infamous "Apple tax" from 30% to 10%-21%. This is yet another major market that has successfully pried open Apple's closed ecosystem, following the European Union and South Korea.

But the interesting thing about this is that the same company plays by two completely different sets of rules in different markets. They made concessions in Japan, backed down in Europe, but in China, Apple still adheres to the toughest global standard of 30%, giving no ground. Third-party payments and sideloading? Don't even think about it.

**Why are walls so valuable?**

Apple's "walled garden" used to be impenetrable. All apps had to be distributed through the App Store, and all digital content transactions had to use Apple Pay, allowing Apple to easily take a cut of 15%-30%. It sounds simple, but this model generates an astonishing cash flow for Apple every year.

Looking at the data for the fiscal year 2023, it is clear: Apple's total services revenue was $85.2 billion, with the App Store alone contributing about $22 billion, accounting for 34% of total services revenue. This is not a small amount.

**How has Japan’s new policy changed?**

As soon as the new regulations in Japan came into effect, Apple's response was quick. According to the latest announced policy adjustments, the Japanese market is now divided into three scenarios for collecting commissions:

— In-app third-party payment: commission 10%-21%
— External Payment (Link Payment): Commission 10%-15%
- Third-party app store payment: only 5% fee

What does this mean? Developers now have real choices. If they don't want to be charged 30%, they can completely opt out and use third-party stores, incurring only a 5% cost. This is a significant event for the app ecosystem.

**Global "factional" situation**

Why is Apple's attitude so different in various places? To put it simply, the stricter the regulations, the more it retreats.

On the EU side, the "Digital Markets Act" has long cornered Apple—allowing sideloading, allowing third-party payments, and requiring a reduction in commissions. South Korea is also not to be outdone, as the "Telecommunications Business Act Amendment" directly prohibits the mandatory use of specific payments within apps, forcing Apple to relent. Japan has definitively concluded this matter with a new competition law.

But when it comes to China, the situation reverses. Apple still adheres to the world’s highest 30% commission standard, showing no signs of compromise. Third-party payments? None. Sideloading applications? Absolutely prohibited. This differential treatment undoubtedly has complex market and regulatory considerations behind it.

**What does this mean for the ecology?**

From the perspective of the crypto ecosystem, this change is actually worth paying attention to. The high commission rates of app stores have always put enormous pressure on products like wallets, DeFi applications, and trading tools. Users face a 30% cost deduction when installing an app, which is passed on to the end users, ultimately resulting in losses for ordinary people.

The rules have loosened now, giving developers more options. We might see more Web3 applications choosing to distribute through third-party channels, which is a good thing for application diversity and user choice freedom.

But don’t overestimate it either. Apple is notoriously obsessed with profits. The concessions it has made in Japan are fundamentally coerced. As long as there is no regulatory enforcement, Apple's priority will always be to protect its business model. In markets without similar regulations, its stance will not change.

The confrontation of "walls and competition" is far from over. The diverging policy standards also remind us that the rules of the global technology ecosystem are being redefined, and the competition among different regions and enterprises has just begun.