WhatsApp Expands Payment Capabilities With New Programmable Transaction Feature Beyond UPI

WhatsApp announces plan to move beyond standard UPI payments, introducing a programmable transaction layer that lets developers embed payment logic directly into chat flows, aiming to simplify peer‑to‑peer and merchant payments within the app.

Programmable transactions will allow conditional triggers such as auto‑pay after order confirmation, split‑bill calculations, and scheduled transfers, expanding functionality compared with current static QR‑code UPI transfers, according to the company's brief statement.

India's digital payments market, already dominated by UPI, could see increased competition as WhatsApp leverages its 400‑million user base, potentially driving higher transaction volumes and prompting regulators to assess new compliance requirements for in‑app programmable payments.

Regulators have signaled interest in monitoring programmable payment flows, emphasizing consumer protection and anti‑money‑laundering safeguards, while WhatsApp says it will work with the Payments Council of India to align its new features with existing financial rules.