Brazil's government-run payments system has become dominant

Post by thisissomething » Tue, Apr 08, 2025, 12:59 PM UTC

afarah1 wrote: post #101

paintbox wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a question of national security not to let Meta eat that cake, and Brasil made the right choice. Tangentially related, I've heard talk of EU alternative to VISA and Mastercard, which I also believe is the right direction.

WhatsApp Pay is available today in Brazil. The official reason for blocking the launch was missing paperwork, but word on the street at the time was that it was to favor Pix. This is all mentioned in the Retuers article. The reasons for favoring Pix are left for one to speculate. You say national security, the other says financial surveillance and control over the population. Time will tell.

Post by Mystery-Machine » Tue, Apr 08, 2025, 1:01 PM UTC

ave_b_2011 wrote: post #133

afarah1 wrote: post #15

WhatsApp is omnipresent for communication in Brazil, and WhatsApp Pay was ready before Pix, but the government blocked the launch to launch Pix first.[1] I rarely see this mentioned. [1] https://www.reuters.com/article/technology/brazil-suspends-w...

This is presented as problematic, but I don’t think it’s a negative thing. You wouldn’t want a foreign company with billions of dollars in their war chest in charge of your countries payment system.

Post by alephnerd » Tue, Apr 08, 2025, 1:03 PM UTC

notpushkin wrote: post #148

alephnerd wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As Visa and MC work globally, I'm betting that the dominance from those will continue. China, India, Brazil, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and others are all trying to expand their own transaction networks. While it's still piecemeal, a Chinese or Indian tourist in Thailand can use UnionPay or UPI to transact without using Visa/Mastercard, a Russian tourist in Vietnam can use Mir, a Brazilian in Argentina can use Pix…

> a Russian tourist in Vietnam can use Mir If you can find a place that actually accepts it! It’s certainly not as ubiquitous as the local Napas247 QR codes.

Post by wtcactus » Tue, Apr 08, 2025, 1:05 PM UTC

Gud wrote: post #157

dtquad wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are alternatives to both inefficient government-run monopolies and US tech giant monopolies. Even a small country like Denmark has multiple software and finance companies doing apps and software in the digital payments and banking field.

Why do you assume a government-run monopoly is inefficient? You should try to take a train in Switzerland sometime. Its government run and I guarantee you will be mind blown over its efficiency.

Post by dewey » Tue, Apr 08, 2025, 1:06 PM UTC

pjc50 wrote: post #118

homebrewer wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used Alipay (which is an Android application where you add a debit or credit card) for absolutely everything when I was there in October of last year. Sure seemed like everyone else was using it too. Except for Hong Kong, they have their own thing. I just used Google pay there.

Does HK still have Octopus? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_card I remember encountering that before London launched Oyster, probably inspired by it. Worked in station vending machines as well as for tickets.