WhatsApp is venturing into cryptocurrency: Here’s how

Meta (formerly Facebook) will allow users to send crypto payments via WhatsApp Via Novi, the company’s cryptocurrency wallet. The pilot program was announced by Novi chief Stefan Casarial, who said that for now, it is open to a limited number of people in the United States. He said that using Novi does not change the privacy of private messages and calls on WhatsApp.

“Novi is a new way to try out the digital wallet. Starting today, a limited number of people in the US will be able to send and receive money using Novi on WhatsApp, making sending money to family and friends as easy as sending a message.” Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, has been working on the Wallet app for several months, while holding back its global plans to roll out a digital currency called Diem over regulatory concerns.

Meta’s own cryptocurrency wallet Novi was launched earlier this year in the US and Guatemala. However, the WhatsApp crypto feature is limited to the US as of now. WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said in a tweet, “New in the US: Use your Novi digital wallet to send and receive money within WhatsApp chats. People use WA to coordinate sending money to their loved ones.” and now Novi will help them do so safely, quickly and at no charge.”