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China-based social giant WeChat has made its ewallet significantly more useful for its users in Malaysia
The platform announced that its China-based sister app, WeixinPay, now supports DuitNow QR to its users in the country.
The update will also allow visitors from China to pay for their purchases by scanning local DuitNow QR codes at various Malaysian merchants using Weixin Pay.
While WeChat was created for users outside of China, Weixin was created primarily for users in the Chinese Mainland.
This means users who sign up for the local WeChat Pay Malaysia cannot use this specific cross-border feature to scan DuitNow QRs.
The expansion also includes four other popular travel destinations: Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and South Korea
The move aims to remove the friction of managing multiple apps or physical currencies while on holiday.
Having previously reduced its local presence, WeChat's integration marks a strategic return to form.
By connecting to the DuitNow QR network, WeChat aims to facilitate smoother cross-border payments for its users
This change is particularly beneficial for the influx of tourists expected from mainland China this year.
It removes hurdles common to digital payments in foreign countries, where local wallets usually dominate.
