TikTok explores peer-to-peer payments via DMs, report says

In Brief Posted: 1:03 PM PDT · August 18, 2026 Image Credits: Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto / Getty Images Aisha Malik TikTok explores peer-to-peer payments via DMs, report says TikTok is developing a feature that would allow users to send each other money via direct messages, according to a new report from Bloomberg . If rolled out, the feature would use the social media service’s TikTok Pay offering, which is already available in Southeast Asia for TikTok Shop purchases. References to the potential feature were found in code hidden within the current version of TikTok’s U.S. iPhone app, according to the report. The code indicates that recipients would be able to “tap to accept” payments, while senders could include messages with their payments, similar to Venmo. TikTok told Bloomberg that the feature is not being tested, which suggests that it’s in early development. Given that the feature is still under development, it’s unknown when or if TikTok plans to widely release peer-to-peer payments. TikTok did not immediately respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time TikTok has tried to push further into financial services. Reuters reported earlier this year that TikTok had applied to Brazil’s central bank for approval to operate as a financial technology company offering lending and payment services. Although TikTok is widely described as a social media giant, it has gradually expanded beyond that category thanks to additions such as robust search, TikTok Shop, a local discovery map, games, hotel bookings, and more. By introducing peer-to-peer payments, TikTok would be competing with services like Venmo and Zelle. TikTok isn’t the only social network pushing into financial services, as X, formerly known as Twitter, recently launched X Money to allow users to send each other money. Topics Apps , In Brief , payments , Social , TikTok October 13 – 15 San Francisco Don’t miss out . The startup community will gather to answer a pivotal question: How do you build sustainably in the AI era? REGISTER NOW Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news Related Social Meta agrees to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part of settlement with states Aisha Malik 4 hours ago Social Meta settles for $18 billion in lawsuit brought by 29 states over social media harms to children Amanda Silberling 6 hours ago Apps WhatsApp tightens account security with stronger two-step verification and more Aisha Malik 1 day ago Latest in Apps Apps Google’s Gemini has a branding problem, and so does the rest of AI Sarah Perez 28 minutes ago Startups Flipboard acquires Graze, the feed builder working to monetize the open social web Sarah Perez 1 hour ago Social Meta agrees to sweeping changes to restrict kids’ access to its apps as part of settlement with states Aisha Malik 4 hours ago