Recent leaks suggest that WhatsApp is considering integrating international payments via its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service, expanding its financial services beyond domestic transactions.
The platform initially introduced WhatsApp Payments for Indian users in November 2020, albeit later than its competitors. The speculated move aims to enhance user engagement and attract a broader user base to its payment platform.
International Payments on WhatsApp through UPI for Indian users.
— AssembleDebug (@AssembleDebug) March 25, 2024
This is currently not available for users. But WhatsApp might be working on it as I couldn't find anything on Google about it.
Apps like Phonepe, GPay and some others already support this. #Whatsapp pic.twitter.com/OE2COo89eZ
Exploring International Payments Integration
Tipster @AssembleDebug shared insights on this potential feature, highlighting its absence in current offerings and suggesting WhatsApp’s active exploration. Screenshots shared by the tipster reveal a new option labeled “International payments” within the Payments menu. Users would be able to activate this feature by setting start and end dates, with a requirement to input their UPI PIN for activation.
Implementation and User Experience
The leaked feature aims to enable Indian users with bank accounts to make transactions to select international merchants. However, availability will depend on whether banks in respective countries support international UPI services. Notably, the activation period for WhatsApp’s international payments may span up to three months, compared to Google Pay’s seven-day transaction window. Despite competitors like Google Pay and PhonePe already offering similar services, WhatsApp’s entry could introduce a new dimension to international transactions within the UPI ecosystem.
