Does iPhone 16 Pro support cryptocurrency payments via NFC?

iPhone 16 Pro's NFC Function: Current Status and Potential of Cryptocurrency Payments

Yes-iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with the same NFC hardware as all iPhones in recent years. Since Apple opened NFC chips to third-party developers in 2024, cryptowallet applications and stablecoin payment services have begun to be developed directly based on the chips, not just through Apple Pay. However, it should be noted that the NFC payment function that truly focuses on cryptocurrency is still in its early stages and has limited deployment scope. Not all iPhone 16 Pro users can use it immediately. This article aims to sort out the currently achievable functions, the remaining limitations, and the specific application methods of the iPhone 16 Pro's NFC chip in the field of cryptocurrency-of which hardware wallets are currently the most mature application scenario.

Core Points

The iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with Apple's standard NFC chips and secure elements, which is exactly the same hardware used for Apple Pay contactless payments.

Since the release of iOS 18.1 in 2024, Apple has opened NFC access to third-party developers-initially under EU antitrust pressure, and subsequently expanded to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand.

This change allows encryption and Web3 wallet applications to directly utilize NFC for payments, independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, and uses host card emulation (HCE) technology rather than Apple's proprietary secure element access method.

Circle, the issuer of USDC stablecoin, has publicly discussed building NFC contactless stablecoin payment capabilities based on this open authority, although widespread support from U.S. merchants has not yet become the norm as of mid-2026.

The most mature application scenario for combining NFC and cryptocurrency is currently not payment, but NFC-based hardware wallets, such as Tangem. These wallets sign transactions by touching the back of the phone, which is different from Bluetooth-based hardware wallets such as the Ledger Nano X.

How NFC works for the iPhone 16 Pro

Near field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless technology that allows two devices to exchange data within centimeters of each other-the basis for contactless touch payments at checkout. Each iPhone 16 Pro is equipped with an NFC chip and Apple's Secure Element, a separate hardware component that stores payment credentials separately from the phone's main operating system to ensure security. In the past, only Apple Pay and Apple Wallet could directly access the chip to make payments; other applications had to go through Apple's own system.

Why will it change: NFC opening in 2024

After facing EU antitrust litigation over restricting competition in the mobile payment space, Apple promised in 2024 to open access to NFC and secure elements to third-party developers, initially limited to the European Economic Area. In August 2024, Apple extended the same access rights to developers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan and New Zealand, and officially launched it in iOS 18.1. The key is that this access is independent of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet-third-party apps use host card emulation (HCE) technology to process their own NFC transactions, which means that crypto-wallet apps can in principle allow users to complete payments by touch without having to touch Apple's own payment system at all.

Can I make cryptocurrency payments via NFC on the iPhone 16 Pro?

In a limited but real sense, the answer is yes. Circle, the company behind USDC stablecoins, has publicly discussed using this open NFC access to achieve direct USDC contactless payments-point-of-sale terminals can transfer the payment amount to the iPhone, users confirm it through Face ID, and transactions are settled on-chain, rather than through the card network. In addition, some smaller Web3 payment apps have also built NFC tools based on the same permissions. Still, this is still in the early stages: As of 2026, widespread acceptance of NFC cryptocurrency payments by U.S. merchants has not yet become the norm, and in practice, most cryptocurrency consumption still occurs through encrypted debit cards added to Apple Wallet (with Apple Pay's existing system) rather than through wallet apps that use native NFC.

The current actual intersection of NFC and cryptocurrency: hardware wallets

The most mature and widely used scenario for the combination of iPhone NFC and cryptocurrency is not payment, but authentication of hardware wallets. NFC-based hardware wallets (such as Tangem) sign transactions by touching a physical card or device on the back of the iPhone, while the phone's NFC chip serves only as a communication bridge rather than a payment terminal. This is different from Bluetooth-based hardware wallets such as the Ledger Nano X, which connect to the phone wirelessly rather than by touch. Both methods save the private key on a dedicated device rather than the phone itself, but NFC hardware wallets do not require pairing and batteries, while Bluetooth hardware wallets do.

iPhone 16 Pro Specifications Overview

In addition to NFC capabilities, the core specifications of the iPhone 16 Pro are still valuable for anyone who compares it with old and new models: a 6.3-inch display, A18 Pro chip, and a 48-megapixel main camera (compared to the standard version of the iPhone 16 has stronger telephoto capabilities), as well as a titanium body. This model will be released together with the iPhone 16 Pro Max in September 2024. As of 2026, the iPhone 16 Pro is no longer Apple's current flagship model-the iPhone 17 Pro has replaced it after its release in September 2025. Apple reintroduced the iPhone 16 Pro to refurbished stores in February 2026 and sold it at a lower price (for example, the 512GB model dropped from the original price of $1,299 to a refurbished price of about $1,019), providing buyers who do not need the latest chips with a more affordable entry option while retaining the same NFC hardware and cryptowallet compatibility described above.

This article is for reference only.