Paytm Pocket Money joins teen fintech race with UPI Circle for under-18 users

Paytm has rolled out Pocket Money, leveraging NPCI's UPI Circle to let teenagers transact without bank accounts under parental supervision. The launch sharpens competition in India's teen fintech segment alongside FamApp, Junio, Walrus and Akudo, which bundle prepaid cards with parental controls.

— Source publishedSat, 23 May, 2026, 08:38 IST·First seen Sat, 23 May, 2026, 08:44 IST·Source Mint · Money

What happened

Paytm launched Pocket Money, a UPI Circle-based feature letting teenagers make supervised UPI payments without bank accounts. The launch spotlights a growing

Why this matters

Paytm's UPI Circle entry tightens the M&A window for acquiring smaller teen-fintech players like Junio, Walrus or Akudo before consolidation pressure erodes their standalone valuations.