Agreed. In any case, hopefully someone finds this thread informative!

If you remove the “provisioning flow” does the payment still get processed?

I think I catch your meaning: it seems you’re arguing that provisioning is a necessary prerequisite to using Apple Pay.

While that is true that you must have set up Apple Pay in order to use Apple Pay, the provisioning flow is not part of payment processing.

A good definition of what is meant by payments processing (from Stripe):

Payment processing is the sequence of actions that securely transfer funds between a payer and a payee. Typically, it involves the authorization, verification, and settlement of transactions through electronic payment systems.

In that process, detailed in the flow diagram from my earlier comment, Apple Pay servers do not play a role.

I know how it works.

Ha! Well all the best to you.

Bruh there is a giant icon that says “Apple servers” in that photo so I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Yes, that is correct. As I pointed out, the top flow in the graphic is the provisioning flow, the flow by which Apple Pay payment credentials (device primary account number, DPAN) are created.

The bottom flow is a purchase transaction flow, that’s what occurs when a user is making a purchase transaction at a store. There is no involvement from Apple Pay servers in processing those transactions. Credentials are sent from the device, to the point of sale terminal, to the acquirer, to the card network, to the card issuer, and back again.

It’s literally called “Apple Pay” and you’re gonna try to convince me that Apple has nothing to do with processing payments? Not likely.

In case you’re not just trolling, I encourage you to learn more about this topic. It’s pretty cool how Apple Pay works.

Hey, exciting to see people so passionate about this! The other user is correct that Apple is not involved with the processing of purchase transactions. Pulled this from LinkedIn:

Top portion is the provisioning flow, bottom portion is the purchase transaction flow. As you can see the transaction is between the customer, acquirer, card network, and issuing bank. Apple involvement not required as the card network does the work of decrypting the payment token.

So the other user’s statement that

Apple is not involved in any capacity with processing transactions when you tap your device in a business.

Is accurate.