WhatsApp’s In-App Payment Feature in Singapore

WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Facebook, has partnered with Stripe, an Irish-American online payment processing platform, to introduce in-chat payments to users and businesses in Singapore. This move makes Singapore the third country to offer in-chat WhatsApp payments, following India and Brazil.

The partnership with Stripe aims to facilitate seamless transactions within the app, providing a secure payment option for both sellers and consumers on the WhatsApp Business Platform. This feature has been available in India and Brazil since 2022, after a temporary halt in Brazil due to concerns raised by the country’s central bank.

The in-app payment feature is backed by Stripe Connect and Stripe Checkout, enabling users in Singapore to engage in buying, selling, and processing transactions directly within the app. This eliminates the need for users to rely on separate messaging platforms or websites for financial transactions.

Sarita Singh, the Regional Head and Managing Director of Stripe Southeast Asia, emphasized that the feature supports various payment options, including debit and credit cards, as well as the popular PayNow real-time payment method in Singapore. Singh believes that this partnership will not only enhance transaction speed and security but also create new revenue streams and a broader customer base for businesses.

Currently, the in-app payment feature is accessible to a limited number of users in Singapore, with plans to expand its availability to more users in the coming months. Users will be able to track payment status updates via the “order details” page within WhatsApp. Additionally, there are no transaction limits or fees associated with this feature.

Despite the convenience and benefits of in-chat payments, Palo Alto Networks, a leading cybersecurity company, advises caution. They warn users to remain vigilant as scammers may attempt to exploit this service, employing increasingly sophisticated attacks.

WhatsApp boasts a massive user base of 2.24 billion monthly users and is one of the most widely used messaging apps globally. Over 5 million businesses worldwide utilize WhatsApp for their operations. The introduction of in-chat payments has the potential to revolutionize the transaction landscape in Singapore by centralizing financial activities. It also presents competition to the e-wallet industry while strengthening the market alongside existing firms like Grab.

As WhatsApp expands the availability of its in-app payment feature in Singapore, users and businesses alike are eagerly awaiting the benefits of streamlined, secure, and convenient financial transactions within their favorite messaging app.