Pix payments could soon receive a contactless upgrade thanks to pressure from Brazilian regulators
Reports in Brazil suggest Apple is working to reach an agreement with the country’s competition authority that would open up iPhone NFC access for Pix payments.
The development, first reported by O Globo, states that the big tech firm is working with the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (Cade) on a potential settlement that would allow third‑party providers to enable tap‑to‑pay Pix transactions on iOS devices.
An agreement would end a four-year dispute between Apple and Cade over access to the iPhone’s NFC hardware, with the regulator examining whether the company’s restrictions give Apple Pay an unfair advantage.
Developed by Brazil’s central bank, Pix has become the country’s dominant instant payment system, with around 90% of adults having used it.
Its rise has been strong enough to push global payments companies to adapt, with PayPal recently integrating Pix into its Complete Payments platform to allow small and medium-sized businesses to offer the method at checkout.
While Android devices already support tap‑to‑pay Pix through third‑party banking apps, iPhone users continue to rely on QR codes for in‑person transactions, making them the only group without access to contactless Pix.
As reported by O Globo, the case remains under review by Cade.
Apple faces relentless pressure from Cade
Brazil’s competition authority has spent several years probing Apple’s control over iPhone NFC access.
Cade opened its investigation to assess whether limiting third‑party access to the NFC chip gives Apple Pay an advantage in a market where Pix has become the default method for everyday transactions.
The case was escalated in 2025, with Apple asked to provide detailed technical information on how NFC permissions are structured for developers, what commercial terms apply and how payment‑provider integrations are handled in Brazil.
A key point of contention is Apple’s position on Brazil’s contactless Pix protocol, introduced by the central bank in 2024 to enable tap‑to‑pay Pix transactions.
Android devices adopted the feature through banking and fintech apps, but iPhones did not. Apple has argued that QR‑based Pix payments already meet user needs and that its NFC policies are aligned with security requirements.
Regulators have continued to question whether this approach creates an uneven competitive environment, particularly as contactless payments become more common in retail transactions and Pix usage continues to grow.
Apple has said throughout the process that its policies are consistent with global security standards and that alternative payment options remain available in Brazil. The tech company has also highlighted its relatively modest share of the country’s smartphone market, suggesting any competitive impact may be limited.
According to data from Statcounter Global Stats, IOS market share for May 2026 in Brazil is 22.1% compared to Android’s 77.9%.
Apple and other competition regulators
Brazil is not the only market where Apple’s control of iPhone NFC functionality has come under pressure, with competition regulators in several countries examining whether the company’s restrictions limit competition in mobile payments.
In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) identified Apple’s NFC policies as a potential barrier to rival wallet providers during its mobile ecosystems investigation, noting concerns over Apple Pay’s position in contactless payments.
Those findings have since fed into the UK’s evolving digital competition framework. Under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, the CMA is expected to gain powers to designate firms with strategic market status and require them to open up key technologies, including NFC access, to competitors.
Apple argued its approach is driven by security and privacy considerations, while regulators continue to assess whether those safeguards justify the level of restriction in place.
