Similar to other social media platforms, TikTok has begun exploring payments as its e-commerce sales boom.
TikTok is expanding further into payments after an engineering update to its US app revealed a new peer-to-peer (P2P) payment feature.
A hidden engineering code has been uncovered in the US app which would allow users to perform P2P payments via direct messages (DMs).
The code would also enable users to make ‘tap to accept’ payments under a timed expiration date. Senders would be able to receive push notifications in their DMs to be updated on the status of the payment, while also being able to attach messages upon sending funds to the receiver.
A spokesperson has told Bloomberg the social media platform is not currently testing payments capabilities in any new markets where TikTok Pay is active.
Any new payment features will likely be rolled out in countries where TikTok Pay is available, which is primarily in Southeast Asia.
P2P money transfers in the US require state money transmitter licenses, the approvals X spent four years securing before launching X Money.
Payment Expert has reached out to TikTok for comment.
TikTok Pay and TikTok Shop growth
TikTok Pay is currently active in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam allowing users to make purchases using in-app payments on TikTok Shop.
The social media platform’s payments product supports methods such as CashApp and Venmo, among others, for users to make third-party transactions for goods and services on TikTok Shop.
The in-app payment service also supports creators on the social media app. Through its Creator Rewards Program, TikTok pays out creators while also supporting live audience users in sending virtual gifs during livestreams, which can be converted to the recipient’s preferred currency.
TikTok Shop was initially rolled out in 2021 before a wider launch push in 2022 and 2023, where it became available to US users.
The social media e-commerce platform has since become the most popular within its field, hitting $66bn in gross merchandise value in 2025, a figure forecasted to reach $112bn this year.
TikTok Shop generated $15.82bn in US sales in 2025, after experiencing its highest growth in 2024 of 407% from 2023 sales.
If the social media platform can consolidate its e-commerce experience through P2P payments, the social media platform may slowly eye-up morphing into a superapp, similar to the likes of WeChat and now X.
Another new super app player
The arrival of WeChat Pay in China helped transform WeChat from what once was a social media platform, to an all encompassing app that supports payments, texts, messaging, gaming and more.
Its widespread success has become one of the most popular digital payment methods in China, challenging Alipay’s long-standing market dominance. WeChat Pay’s popularity has triggered many social media platforms, such as X, to perform their own in-house payments systems to perform P2P payments.
X owner Elon Musk has envisaged transforming the social media platform into a super app since he first acquired Twitter in October 2022. After four years of planning, securing over 40 e-money transmitter licenses in the US, and beta testing, X Money launched in late July 2026.
X Money soft-launched in the US to Premium and Premium+ users, allowing up to 6% APY on balances, 3% cashback for eligible purchases with the X debit card, early direct deposits two days before payday – alongside free ATM withdrawals, wires and checks.
In a recent episode of the Payment Expert Podcast, the team discussed whether X Money could replicate the success of WeChat Pay, or whether it would be a gimmick that could soon fade away.
