TikTok appears to be developing a direct messaging payment feature that would enable users to transfer funds to one another, according to recent findings. Code discovered within TikTok’s iOS application in the United States suggests the platform is building out a peer-to-peer payment system. The feature would allow senders to track transaction status through notifications, while recipients could accept payments with a simple tap. Like popular money transfer apps, users would have the option to include accompanying text with their transfers.
The proposed functionality would operate through TikTok Pay, a payment infrastructure currently limited to Southeast Asian markets including Malaysia and Vietnam. In the United States, TikTok Shop presently supports multiple payment methods including PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and traditional credit cards. However, a company representative confirmed to Bloomberg that this feature is not yet under active testing, meaning any potential rollout remains uncertain and potentially distant.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, has already demonstrated comparable capabilities through its Chinese platform Douyin, which includes peer-to-peer payment functionality via Douyin Pay. The company has signaled broader financial ambitions internationally, having applied for licenses in Brazil to operate lending services and prepaid financial accounts. Such integrated payment systems are not unprecedented, as Facebook Messenger and X have previously introduced similar features to their platforms.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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