The service will be rolled out more widely in the coming months, enabling customers to pay for goods and services without leaving the app or paying in person.
WhatsApp has been trying to offer both peer-to-peer transfers and payments-to-merchant services within its app but has faced challenges in Brazil due to regulatory concerns.
The rollout of WhatsApp payment services in Brazil has been a long and complex process. The messaging app originally launched its payments feature in 2020, but it was suspended by the country’s central bank shortly afterward over competition concerns. Peer-to-peer payments eventually returned a year later, but WhatsApp has continued to struggle with getting merchant payments off the ground. However, with the latest announcement, WhatsApp is one step closer to its goal of offering a comprehensive range of payment services to its users.
This move is crucial for WhatsApp as it tries to expand its presence in the Brazilian market, where it has over 120 million active users. Payment services like this are important as WhatsApp increasingly positions itself as a platform for both personal and business use.
The app is emulating Tencent’s WeChat, which is known for its comprehensive suite of services, including social media and payment features. WhatsApp has already rolled out similar payment features in India, its other major market.
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