UPI Goes Global, But Free Transactions May Be on the Clock

UPI Goes Global, But Free Transactions May Be on the Clock
UPI Goes Global, But Free Transactions May Be on the Clock

Hey Payments Fanatic!

UPI is having a moment, and not just in India. With over 18 billion monthly transactions and expansion plans into new countries, India’s digital payments juggernaut is poised for global growth.

But even as the ecosystem scales, the question no one wants to ask is now front and center: can it afford to stay free?

RBI officials say financial sustainability must be part of the conversation, hinting that the era of zero-fee UPI payments may not last forever.

As UPI prepares to challenge cross-border networks, scroll down to see what’s next for India’s biggest FinTech export, and who could foot the bill if the subsidy model shifts.

Also, your daily dose of payments awaits 👇

Cheers,

Marcel


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INSIGHTS

🇩🇪 PayPal dominates web store payments in Germany, but Apple Pay reigns in the UK. A new report from the direct-to-consumer payment platform Appcharge reveals regional differences in payment preferences. Keep reading


NEWS

 🇮🇳 New UPI Rules from August 1: Big changes coming to GPay, PhonePe, Paytm, and others, which will improve the ecosystem, making it smoother and more efficient by overcoming problems such as server downtimes and delays in payments through 7 new changes made by NPCI.

🇮🇳 RBI has flagged concerns over the zero-charge model. While the government supports free digital payments, the RBI has underscored the need for a revenue mechanism to keep the system running efficiently in the long run. Continue reading

🇦🇺 Zip has announced a new integration with Xero via Stripe in Australia, enabling small businesses using both platforms to offer Zip’s flexible payment options directly on their invoices. This integration allows businesses to get paid upfront while giving customers greater flexibility in how they pay.

🇬🇧 Square launches data-driven cash advances in the UK. Businesses can access simple funding to grow their business and keep operations running smoothly. Whether a restaurant owner, retail merchant, or beauty salon, fast and easy access to funds helps sellers manage daily expenses without delay and with no interest.

🇯🇲 JN Bank releases a new digital pay wallet. JN Pay Wallet allows users, whether they have a bank account or not, to access the Central Bank Digital Currency, JAM-DEX, to transfer funds, pay bills, buy mobile credit, and make deposits and withdrawals from a JN Bank account and JN Bank Smart ATM.

🇨🇭 Levl onboards with BCB for a cross-border solution. Levl’s BCB accounts, operated out of the UK and Switzerland, are key to its business expansion, allowing remittances in global leading currencies often favoured by consumers and businesses in emerging economies.

🇺🇸 Wise turned to the US as some investors pushed back on dual shares. Wise's plan to shift its primary listing out of London gathered momentum after some existing shareholders rebuffed a proposal that would have allowed Chief Executive Officer Kristo Käärmann to keep his so-called golden shares for many more years.

🇧🇷 Tourists in Rio may soon pay with crypto as Bybit and Tether expand. The partnership comes amid growing interest in digital assets. The Central Bank Director stated that about 90% of Brazil’s crypto transactions involve stablecoins. He noted most transactions are linked to cross-border payments, which raise challenges for taxation and regulation.

🇺🇸 Nuvei adds PINless debit and least cost routing to boost approval rates in North America. PINless debit and least cost routing are available now in the U.S., enabling eligible transactions to bypass traditional card rails in favor of lower-cost local debit networks.

🇺🇸 US crypto legislation drives $4B surge in stablecoin supply. Regulatory clarity is opening the door for banks, asset managers, and crypto firms to roll out new stablecoin products. With regulatory clarity comes new capital, new players, and intensified competition.

🇮🇳 Setu strengthens the top deck with Senior Execs from Razorpay, PhonePe, and Wibmo. This follows the appointment of Anand Raisinghani as its new CEO. Prashanth Nimmagada joined as CTO. Ramkumar Thirumurti has come on board as CRO, and Santosh Subramanian has joined as Head of Finance.


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