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Facebook tests QR code-based P2P payments

Facebook has begun trialling QR code-based person-to-person payments and personalised payment links.

  10 2 comments

Facebook tests QR code-based P2P payments

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This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.

As first picked up by MacRumours, some US users are now seeing a new "Scan" button on the Facebook Pay carousel. When they hit the button, users can scan a friend's QR code, select an amount to send or request and then make the payment.

On the same screen, users see a personalised payment link - https://m.me/pay/UserName - which lets people publish their payment address outside of Facebook.

Facebook Pay was launched in late 2019, consolidating payments service that works across the social media giant's main app, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Users can already make P2P payments but the QR code option opens up physical, in-person payments. Venmo already offers a similar service.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the test to TechCrunch: "To make payments on Messenger even easier, we’ve begun testing the ability for people to use QR codes and payment links when they want to send or request money."

Users have to be at least 18 years old and have a Visa or Mastercard debit card, a PayPal account, or a supported pre-paid card.

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Comments: (2)

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith Founding CTO at RTGS & ClearBank

Wow, had this working back in 2011.....The user experience is OK, but the scanning friction caused a number of challenges. Tech has moved on now, so i believe that is largely solved, so why opt for a QR code???? 

Ketharaman Swaminathan

Ketharaman Swaminathan Founder and CEO at GTM360 Marketing Solutions

Some of the most widely used mobile payment apps in the world use QR codes e.g. Alipay and WeChat Pay in China; Google Pay, PhonePe and PayTM in India; and Starbucks and WalMart Pay in USA.

Curious to know the rails on which this new Facebook Pay is based. Some years ago, the payment functionality supported by Facebook worked off of TELCO / carrier billing and came with 560% fees, as I'd highlighted in Banks Have Nothing To Fear From TELCOs.

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