WhatsApp, the instant messaging app, has become a vital part of our lives, whether for family or work. Beyond sending messages, WhatsApp now allows users to send money.
Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) gave WhatsApp a significant boost by removing the UPI user onboarding limit with immediate effect.
This means WhatsApp can now provide its UPI payment service, WhatsApp Pay, to its entire user base in India. Previously, NPCI had restricted WhatsApp Pay’s user base expansion to a phased approach.
Why NPCI Imposed Limits on WhatsApp Pay
NPCI manages the UPI system in India and had initially placed onboarding limits on payment services like WhatsApp Pay to ensure a controlled rollout.
This approach was taken to address scalability, performance, and security concerns within India’s sensitive payment ecosystem.
When WhatsApp Pay first launched, only a small percentage of UPI users could access it. Over time, NPCI gradually increased this limit, and by November 2022, it was raised to 100 million users.
Now, with the removal of the onboarding cap, WhatsApp can serve its entire Indian user base, which exceeds 500 million (50 crore) users. Sources have described this development as a major milestone for WhatsApp.
What Does This Change Mean for WhatsApp Users?
With the removal of the limit, WhatsApp can now offer its UPI services to all users in India. This means that every WhatsApp user can now access and use WhatsApp Pay to send money.
Before this, NPCI allowed WhatsApp Pay to increase its user base gradually, with limits on how many users could sign up for UPI services at a time.
Initially, when WhatsApp Pay was launched, only a small group of users could use it. Over time, NPCI allowed the service to expand. In November 2022, the limit was raised to 100 million users.
Now, with the removal of this cap, WhatsApp can provide UPI services to its entire user base in India, which exceeds 500 million users. This is a significant milestone for both WhatsApp and the digital payments sector in India.