Apple Adds Bitcoin Powered Game to iOS

SaruTobi, the quirky monkey-flinging mobile game that first launched back in 2013, has officially returned to the App Store with a new twist - in-app purchases powered by Bitcoin. After being removed years ago for its original crypto integration, SaruTobi is now making a comeback as the first iOS game to fully support Bitcoin microtransactions, thanks to Apple’s recent approval.

Apple Adds Bitcoin Powered Game to App Store

This updated version of SaruTobi is built on ZBD’s Bitcoin payment system, using the Lightning network to enable fast, low-cost transactions. For players, this means the ability to earn and spend satoshis - the smallest unit of Bitcoin - while playing. One Bitcoin is made up of 100 million sats, and at the current exchange rate, one dollar gets you around 920 sats.

Apple Adds Bitcoin Powered Game to App Store

How Bitcoin Works in the Game

Instead of pushing players to spend traditional currency, SaruTobi integrates satoshi rewards directly into gameplay. Players earn sats by playing - supported by in-game ads - and can use them to unlock boosts, power-ups, and other upgrades. It’s designed to keep the flow of the game intact, with purchases acting as an extension of play rather than a paywall.

If players want to, they can transfer their sats out of the game to their ZBD wallet. From there, they can either use them in other Lightning-supported games or cash them out. This creates a sort of mini crypto economy within the mobile gaming space, offering real value in exchange for time spent playing.

Apple Adds Bitcoin Powered Game to App Store

Apple Gives the Green Light to Bitcoin IAPs

The big news here is Apple’s approval. According to ZBD’s CTO André Neves, the technical ability to do this has existed for a while, but changes in the regulatory landscape opened the door. By plugging Lightning into the game directly, ZBD says it has created a smoother, more flexible way for players to interact with in-game currency - and potentially the future of in-game economies.

“This isn’t just about payments,” said Neves. “It’s about rewriting how games monetize, engage, and grow.” ZBD sees SaruTobi as a proof of concept for Bitcoin-powered gaming. With Apple now seemingly on board, the team is hoping more developers will follow suit and explore how crypto microtransactions could shake up traditional in-game purchase models.

Apple Adds Bitcoin Powered Game to App Store

What This Means for Mobile Gaming and Bitcoin

SaruTobi’s return comes at a time when web3 and crypto gaming are still trying to find a stable foothold in mainstream markets. But instead of relying on NFTs or speculative tokens, SaruTobi keeps things simple: earn sats, spend sats. The use of Bitcoin through the Lightning network removes a lot of the friction that comes with typical crypto interactions, especially for mobile users.

It’s still early days, but SaruTobi could end up being a turning point for mobile gaming’s relationship with cryptocurrency. Whether it’s a one-off experiment or the start of a broader trend, one thing is clear - Bitcoin is now officially part of the App Store. SaruTobi is available now on iOS.