Apple Files Trademark Application for Apple Pay Cash Peer-to-Peer Payments Service in European Union

Apple has filed a trademark application in the European Union for Apple Pay Cash, the company's new iMessage-based peer-to-peer payments service coming with iOS 11.

Unearthed by tech blog LetsGoDigital, the application was filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on Thursday and is classified as "computer software for use in connection with electronic payment and funds transfers".

apple pay cash
By integrating with iMessage in iOS 11, Apple Pay Cash will enable users to make person to person payments right from within chat threads. To send a cash payment, the user authenticates it with Touch ID (or perhaps via facial authentication on the upcoming "iPhone 8") on their iOS device or Apple Watch.

Money received using the service goes on to an auto-generated virtual Apple Pay cash card, similar to a gift card, that gets stored in the Wallet app. The cash card can then be used to make regular Apple Pay purchases at retail stores and on the web. Alternatively, users will be able to transfer the money to an allocated bank account.

send receive apple pay cash via messages ios 11
Apple has yet to offer further details on how Apple Pay Cash will work, but Brazilian tech blog iHelp BR has uncovered code references in the Apple Pay framework that suggest users will need to authenticate the service with a driver's license or Photo ID before they can send any money through iMessage. This may be done by holding the ID in front of the camera, similar to when adding a bank card to Apple Pay.

While yesterday's trademark application has yet to be granted by the EUIPO, the fact that it has been filed already may mean Apple Pay Cash will go live across EU countries soon after the initial U.S.-only rollout.

Hopefully we'll know more on September 12, when Apple is expected to launch iOS 11 in tandem with new iPhones, new Apple Watches, and possibly a new 4K Apple TV at its fall event, set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...

Top Rated Comments

MLVC Avatar
103 months ago
How about bringing ApplePay to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium etc. first?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lionsy Avatar
103 months ago
How about bringing ApplePay to Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium etc. first?
The only reason they wouldn’t have done it already is if the banks aren’t playing ball, or the infrastructure isn’t in place. There’s a reason it was available in the UK first, (after the home country) all the terminals had already been contactless for years and all the banks supported it.

If you want change, go to your bank and tell them you want it!

If the transfer don't go directly to the credit card account I'm not interested. We already have services for that here in Sweden (Swish). Having the money on some Apple Pay cash card makes no sense to me.
The article says you can withdraw it too
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keirasplace Avatar
103 months ago
You know what's funny? Belgium already enrolled contactless payments for Android smartphones. https://www.blog.google/topics/shopping-payments/belgium-meet-android-pay/ Samsung Pay did the same. Only Apple lags behind like always!!!!! I am so mad at them.

My bank Belfius already supports contactless payments and so does any other major bank in Belgium. I would love to know why Apple acts like a child full of tantrum.
Wth are you talking about, get a clue about how things really are. Android or Samsung doesn't support all banks btw, so your own tantrum is tiresome.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bollman Avatar
103 months ago
I can pretty confidently say that this is a no go from start, unless Apple register itself as a bank.

The EU has new, very strict laws concerning "money launder". This means, all transactions needs to be traceable and verifiable. That's why "swish" works in Sweden, it is a joint venture by Swedish banks so the transfer is directly from one bank account to another, and it's all traceable. There's no way Apple as a non-bank would be allowed to transfer money between people, and certainly not across borders (well, they can do it, but they would be constantly charged with money launder charges and people using it would be blacklisted from banks).

The laws are strict enough that handling cash is being downright an inconvenience. I was declined a loan unless I could provide proof of where I got $3000 in cash I had deposited on my account. The money came from selling 2 cars and I had to provide proof of ownership and sale or face blacklisting.

This is not a Swedish thing but new EU legislation, "money launder-directive" and "funds transfer regulation":
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1732_en.htm
[doublepost=1504281297][/doublepost]Oh, and Samsung Pay is already used here in Sweden, but not Apple Pay, one wonders why...
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ArneK Avatar
103 months ago
Zelle only came out extremely recently. It's yet another feature American banks were extremely late to the party with and no wonder why Apple rolled out AP and will roll out AP Cash here first.
yeah the banking infrastructure in the US is embarrassing. I was really looking forward to use Apple Pay for my semester abroad here but it's basically accepted nowhere because every store is trying to push its own app... It was quite shocking to me that my American friends here boasted with the increased security that they now have chips in their CCs. I didn't know there was even cards without chips. Being in my mid-20s, I never had a non-chip card ever since I have a bank account. The most shocking thing about this whole delay in security and lack of user friendliness though is that banks take huge cuts on everything here. You would think they could use at least some of that money for their costumers. I guess regulation did actually largely benefit the EU banking sector in terms of security and modern payment systems (even though I am from Germany where people for some reason LOVE paying with actual cash).
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NecroKill Avatar
103 months ago
I can pretty confidently say that this is a no go from start, unless Apple register itself as a bank.

The EU has new, very strict laws concerning "money launder". This means, all transactions needs to be traceable and verifiable. That's why "swish" works in Sweden, it is a joint venture by Swedish banks so the transfer is directly from one bank account to another, and it's all traceable. There's no way Apple as a non-bank would be allowed to transfer money between people, and certainly not across borders (well, they can do it, but they would be constantly charged with money launder charges and people using it would be blacklisted from banks).

The laws are strict enough that handling cash is being downright an inconvenience. I was declined a loan unless I could provide proof of where I got $3000 in cash I had deposited on my account. The money came from selling 2 cars and I had to provide proof of ownership and sale or face blacklisting.

This is not a Swedish thing but new EU legislation, "money launder-directive" and "funds transfer regulation":
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1732_en.htm
[doublepost=1504281297][/doublepost]Oh, and Samsung Pay is already used here in Sweden, but not Apple Pay, one wonders why...
That concerns Apple Pay in absolutely 0 ways. Apple Pay is not some obscure currency or anything of the sort. Apple Pay is a way to protect your transactions, but that doesn't mean you can't trace it. Apple Pay is your BANKS credit or debit card and when you make a purchase using Apple Pay what do you think happens and what do you see in your card statement? It is perfectly traceable if needed. It is no different from sending money one Revolut or N26 user to another. We already know from iOS 11 beta that there will be some kind of ID verification and it seems that a 3rd party bank or other financial entity will managing Apple Pay Cash card for P2P payments.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)