WhatsApp looks to launch mobile payments service in Indonesia - Report

Facebook • August 20, 2019, 12:15PM EDT
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Facebook-owned WhatsApp is looking to offer digital payment services to Indonesia, according to a report by Reuters. The messaging service is in talks with multiple Indonesian digital payments firms including DANA, OVO, and ride-hailing startup Go-Jek. According to Reuters' sources, deals with these three firms "are expected to be finalised shortly."

A Facebook rep told Reuters that "WhatsApp is in conversations with financial partners in Indonesia about payments," but declined to go into further detail owing to the discussions being in "early stages." Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy and has over 100 million WhatsApp users. WhatsApp is also in the process of launching a payments service in India, pending regulatory approval. According to Reuters, unlike India where WhatsApp plans to launch peer-to-peer payments services, the firm will only serve as a payments platform in Indonesia, supporting payment services via local wallets.

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Steven Zheng profile picture Steven Zheng

Steven Zheng is a researcher for The Block. He joined The Block in August 2018. Steven graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in economics. Previously, he covered blockchain and crypto at Radicle, a startup analytics firm. He also had brief stints at Cheddar, a media startup, and Bowery Capital, a venture capital firm. He owns bitcoin. Follow Steven on Twitter at: @Dogetoshi

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