WhatsApp is said to be testing international payments via UPI for Indian users

WhatsApp may be working on enabling international payments through its in-app Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service, according to a new leak. WhatsApp Payments or WhatsApp Pay was first launched to Indian users in November 2020 as an in-app service. The platform’s entry into the payments space is thought to have been delayed because rival platforms were already established at the time. Now, the popular messaging platform is expected to add international payments functionality for up to three months in a bid to expand its user base for financial services.

Information about the feature was shared by tipster @AssembleDebug, who posted postal on X (formerly Twitter), “Indian users can make international payments on WhatsApp via UPI. This feature is currently unavailable to users. But WhatsApp may be working on it as I couldn’t find any information about it on Google.” The tip The author also shared a screenshot of the feature but did not reveal which beta version added the feature.

In the screenshot, a new option can be seen payment method below the menu Forgot UPI PIN options.Cutting edge features are marked international payment When clicked, it opens a separate screen where the user can select the start and end dates of the feature and turn it on. According to the screenshot, users need to enter a UPI PIN to enable the feature.

International Payments allows users with Indian bank accounts to send money and complete transactions to selected international merchants. This feature is only available in countries where banks have enabled international UPI services. In India, international payments through UPI automatically expire and require manual activation again. According to sources, this period for WhatsApp may be three months. In comparison, Google Pay offers a 7-day transaction window. Notably, Google Pay, PhonePe and some other major players in the UPI space already offer this service.