The messenger launches a pilot project, allowing limited number of people to send and receive money inside the app.
A limited number of WhatsApp users in the U.S. can now send instant transfers in cryptocurrency from within the app. This has become possible thanks to collaboration with Novi, a payment service provider, as stated by Novi’s head Stephane Kasriel in his Twitter account:
There's a new way to try the @Novi digital wallet. Starting today, a limited number of people in the US will be able to send and receive money using Novi on @WhatsApp, making sending money to family and friends as easy as sending a message. 💸💬 pic.twitter.com/dGz3lejri7
— Stephane Kasriel (@skasriel) December 8, 2021
Novi is a digital wallet of Meta corporation (former Facebook), launched six weeks ago as a pilot project. It is a new way to send and receive money instantly and securely. Novi supports Pax Dollar (USDP) stable coin, released by Paxos.
The payments function in the same way as any attachment in WhatsApp. To access the function, simply press a paper clip (Android) or + (iOS) icon and choose “Payment” in the menu. Payments will appear directly in people’s chat.
Sending or receiving cryptocurrency is free of charge. Nor are there any limits on how often one makes transfers or converts stablecoin into local currency. It is expected that the service will be extended to other countries once there’s an understanding of the new experience.
According to Kasriel, using Novi doesn’t change WhatsApp privacy on personal messages and calls, which remain end-to-end encrypted.