WhatsApp turns on merchant chat payments in Brazil
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Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is allowing WhatsApp users in Brazil to pay merchants directly within the app -- the next in a number of steps moving toward an "everything app" that keeps users engaged.
In November, the company updated WhatsApp to allow users in Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the UK to browse businesses by category, and send messages to them -- with plans to allow users to make secure payments directly in chat following a launch in India. In December, MercadoLibre said it was testing WhatsApp payments in Brazil.

Now chat payments are live in Brazil, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said. Small businesses using WhatsApp Business can link a supported payment partner and build an order within the app to securely accept payments using Mastercard and Visa debit, credit and prepaid cards.
The card numbers are encrypted and securely stored, Meta said, and users need to use a PIN for each payment.