Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has officially overtaken Visa to become the world’s largest real-time payments system, marking a monumental milestone in the global digital finance ecosystem. As of July 2025, UPI is processing over 650 million daily transactions, surpassing Visa’s 639 million.
This achievement, reached within just nine years of UPI’s launch, reflects its unprecedented adoption and the robust digital infrastructure built under India’s fintech revolution. What started as a domestic initiative by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has now positioned India at the forefront of real-time payment innovation.
Unlike traditional card-based systems, UPI enables instant bank-to-bank transfers, accessible through mobile apps and QR codes, without the need for cards or complex authentication processes. Its open architecture has made it attractive to banks, fintechs, and global payment platforms alike.
The growth of UPI has been driven by a mix of government support, regulatory clarity, zero MDR (merchant discount rate) policies, and a rapidly growing smartphone and internet user base. UPI’s ease of use, interoperability, and security features have made it the preferred mode of payment for individuals and businesses alike.
Globally, UPI’s success is prompting partnerships and adoption across borders. Countries including Singapore, UAE, France, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan have either enabled or are in the process of enabling UPI-based payments for Indian travelers and NRIs.
As UPI continues to scale and expand its global footprint, its ascent signals a paradigm shift in how the world perceives and adopts real-time digital payments – placing India firmly at the helm of fintech innovation.
