Apple prepares built-in cryptocurrency wallet for iPhone 18: new user experience

06.05.2026

Tech giant Apple has always been known for its secrecy, but leaks from supply chains in South Korea and Taiwan in early May 2026 indicate that the company is preparing the most radical change in iPhone history. The matter concerns the integration of a full-fledged hardware module for storing digital assets in the upcoming iPhone 18.

Secure Vault: A hardware wallet in your pocket

According to insider information, the new A20 Bionic processor will receive a separate security enclave codenamed "Secure Vault". Unlike the existing Secure Enclave, which is responsible for Face ID, the new chip will be optimized for generating and storing private keys under the BIP-39 standard. This means users will no longer need external devices such as Ledger or Trezor to securely store cryptocurrency.

Why is this important for the market?

If Apple makes a crypto wallet part of iOS, the entry barrier to the industry will drop to zero. We can expect:

Mass adoption: More than 1.2 billion users will gain access to Web3 with one click.
Integration with Apple Pay: The ability to instantly convert BTC/ETH into fiat during in-store payments.
A new security standard: Hacking software wallets will become much more difficult thanks to Apple’s hardware protection.

While the official announcement is expected at the September presentation, the crypto market is already beginning to price these expectations into top assets.

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