PayPal users can now send or receive money through one-time shareable links. These links can be shared across messaging apps, emails, or chats and automatically expire after 10 days of inactivity.
The feature is rolling out today in the U.S. and will expand to the U.K., Italy, and other countries later this month.
To use the feature, users can go to the Send/Request tab in the PayPal app, select “send and request money with a link,” enter the amount, and then share the generated link. Notes can also be added to explain the purpose of the transfer.
Recipients simply tap the link and complete the payment through the PayPal app or website. If the link remains unused for 10 days, it will no longer work.
Crypto Expansion on PayPal
Alongside payment links, PayPal confirmed that crypto transfers will soon be available to U.S. users. Supported assets will include Bitcoin, Ethereum, PYUSD, and other stablecoins. These can be sent between PayPal, Venmo, and compatible digital wallets worldwide.
These updates come after PayPal announced PayPal World, a cross-platform system designed to link major global wallets and payment networks. When it launches later this year, it will connect systems such as Mercado Pago in Latin America, India’s UPI, China’s Weixin Pay, Venmo, and PayPal itself.
Author’s Opinion
PayPal’s shareable links are a small but clever addition. For people who don’t want to bother with entering details or scanning QR codes, a simple link makes payments easier in group settings, casual splits, or quick one-off transactions. The bigger story, though, is PayPal’s steady shift into crypto and cross-platform payments. If executed properly, PayPal could become the bridge between traditional finance and decentralized payments, something its competitors haven’t quite nailed yet.
Featured image credit: Muhammad Asyfaul via Unsplash
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