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Paytm gets RBI nod to expand payments into offline and cross-border flows

Written by Mahathir BayenaPublished dez. 25 2025Last Updated dez. 25 2025

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Paytm has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India to extend its payment aggregator licence to cover offline and cross-border transactions.

The authorisation applies to Paytm Payments Services Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of One 97 Communications.

The clearance builds on the online payment aggregator licence granted in November 2025 under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act.

With the expanded licence, Paytm can now operate across online, in-store and international payment flows.

The approval allows the company to offer payment acceptance and settlement services for physical retail, digital commerce and overseas transactions.

Regulators said the move places Paytm among a limited group of firms authorised across all major payment aggregation categories in India.

Compliance expectations for payment aggregators remain strict, particularly around governance, merchant onboarding and cross-border controls.

Payment aggregators occupy a central role in India’s financial system, linking consumers, merchants, banks and payment networks.

Because of that position, the RBI enforces high standards on risk management, data security and anti-money laundering safeguards.

Paytm’s application for broader payment aggregation had been under regulatory review for several years.

The November 2025 approval for online aggregation was viewed as a key milestone in resolving those concerns.

The latest clearance completes the regulatory process by extending permissions to higher-risk offline and international payment flows.

Regulators indicated the decision reflects confidence in Paytm’s updated compliance framework and internal controls.

Offline payment aggregation is particularly significant in India, where many transactions still occur in physical shops and service outlets.

The expanded licence allows Paytm to integrate QR payments, card acceptance and settlements under a single regulatory structure.

Cross-border approval enables Paytm to process both inbound and outbound international payments for merchants.

This includes services for exporters, tourism operators, international service providers and global e-commerce businesses.

The broader scope moves Paytm closer to offering end-to-end merchant infrastructure rather than standalone payment tools.

The development strengthens Paytm’s ability to compete with other large payment service providers across multiple transaction types.

Alongside regulatory progress, Paytm has introduced product updates aimed at rebuilding user trust.

One recent feature allows users to hide selected UPI transactions from their main payment history.

Access to hidden transactions requires PIN or biometric authentication, addressing privacy concerns.

The feature reflects growing sensitivity around transaction visibility in shared-device environments.

Paytm has also partnered with Groq to deploy real-time artificial intelligence across its payments infrastructure.

The technology is focused on backend systems such as fraud detection, transaction monitoring and operational efficiency.

These capabilities are especially relevant for scaling cross-border payments with automated risk checks.

The expanded licence removes a major regulatory overhang that has constrained Paytm since its public listing.

It restores the company’s ability to compete across online, offline and international payment segments.

Regulators signalled that Paytm now meets standards expected of systemically important payment intermediaries.

The approval does not guarantee growth but removes structural limits on Paytm’s payments business.

How effectively Paytm converts regulatory access into merchant adoption and transaction volumes will be closely watched.