India pauses UPI-Alipay Plus deal, blocking overseas merchant access for Indian travelers
India has shelved the proposed UPI-Alipay Plus integration over security and regulatory concerns with China. The tie-up would have let Indian travelers pay via UPI at Alipay-supported merchants abroad. No active Apple Pay India discussions either, leaving cross-border retail payments in limbo.
What happened
India has paused the proposed UPI-Alipay Plus integration over security and regulatory concerns. The deal would have enabled Indian travelers to use UPI at
Why this matters
With UPI-Alipay+ shelved and Apple Pay India dormant, there's a widening white space for bilateral wallet partnerships and FX-friendly card alliances targeting Indian outbound travel spend.