TikTok is reportedly weighing whether to expand its TikTok Pay feature to the United States, a move that would let American users send money to other accounts directly through the app’s messaging system. The exploration was first reported by Bloomberg, signaling another step in TikTok’s broader push into e-commerce and social shopping.
Feature Already Live in Other Markets
TikTok Pay currently operates in Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand, where it enables users to complete purchases without leaving the app. In some regions, TikTok also offers a “PayLater” option, allowing shoppers to split purchases into installments. The company’s China-based counterpart, Douyin, has leaned heavily on its own in-stream payment tool, Douyin Pay, which has become central to livestream commerce. Data cited from a ScienceDirect report found livestreams made up over 40% of Douyin’s total e-commerce sales in 2024, underscoring how frictionless payments can accelerate impulse purchases during live broadcasts.
Shopping Growth Fuels the Push
The potential US rollout comes as TikTok’s commerce business continues to surge. A Momentum Works estimate cited in the report put TikTok’s global gross merchandise value at roughly $50 billion in the first half of 2026, a 92% year-over-year jump, with the US market contributing $11.8 billion of that total — more than double its performance from a year earlier. Given that trajectory, adding a native payment option could further streamline the path from viewing to buying.
Before any launch, however, TikTok’s US operations would likely need to secure money transmitter licenses across multiple states, a regulatory hurdle that could shape the timeline for rollout.