AltStore, the independent iOS app distribution project, is scaling beyond Europe with planned launches in Japan, Brazil and Australia before the end of 2025 and a UK rollout in 2026.
At the same time, the service is adding ActivityPub-based federation so app listings, updates and user interactions can appear across Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky and other fediverse platforms.
What's Launching & When
AltStore's European alternative marketplace, AltStore PAL, will expand into three new national markets—Japan, Brazil and Australia—by the end of 2025, with the United Kingdom scheduled to follow in 2026.
The developer says the expansion responds to user demand and that exact launch dates depend on coordination with platform requirements.
How Fediverse Integration Will Work
The platform plans to use the ActivityPub protocol so that each AltStore "source" will have its own ActivityPub account.
(Source: AltStore PAL Developer Blog)
Users on fediverse services will be able to follow, like, boost and reply to app news and updates; those interactions are intended to appear natively inside AltStore as well, creating a two-way bridge between the app repository and the open social web.
Collaborations and Technical Rollout
AltStore is working with Mastodon gGmbH to operate a custom Mastodon server (currently in beta) and partnering with the nonprofit A New Social and tools like Bridgy Fed to enable Bluesky interactions.
The fediverse features are expected to arrive in the next few months for AltStore PAL users.
Funding & Governance Changes
To support engineering, infrastructure and international expansion, AltStore raised $6 million in investment led by Pace Capital, whose partner Chris Paik (a Patreon board member) will join AltStore's board.
Flipboard CEO Mike McCue will also join the board. The funding aims to hire staff and add bandwidth required for federation and global scale-up.
Risks, Constraints & Potential Impact
Several challenges could shape AltStore's progress: Apple's iOS policies and technical gatekeeping, legal and regulatory scrutiny in different jurisdictions, user trust and security concerns when installing third-party app stores, and the complexities of moderation and spam control across federated social networks.
If successfully executed, AltStore's approach would push further experimentation with decentralized distribution and tighter integration between app ecosystems and open social platforms.
Editor's Comments
AltStore's dual focus on global expansion and Fediverse integration reflects growing pressure to open mobile ecosystems.
Linking app updates to ActivityPub could create a more transparent and interactive environment between developers and users, but it also introduces moderation and security challenges.
With new funding and experienced board members, AltStore is shifting from a niche experiment to a serious alternative marketplace—its success will depend on Apple's response and user trust in decentralized distribution.
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