New tools combine collections, transfers and global digital wallets.
SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES — July 2026. Visa has introduced three digital tools designed to transform a smartphone into a payment terminal, global wallet and money-transfer platform. The initiative targets small businesses, independent sellers and microentrepreneurs in emerging markets who need to accept electronic payments without purchasing traditional point-of-sale equipment. Through a compatible mobile device and participating financial institution, merchants can collect money, pay collaborators, issue refunds and move funds internationally.
The expansion reflects the growing dependence of small businesses on digital financial services. Visa’s global small-business trends report found that 99 percent of the companies surveyed already use at least one financial technology tool. Approximately 85 percent said that digital services had helped their businesses grow. Smartphones could also provide a gateway into the formal financial system for millions of people who remain without conventional bank accounts.
The first service, Visa Accept, allows merchants to receive card payments directly through a smartphone connected to an eligible debit or prepaid account. Customers can tap a contactless card against the seller’s device or complete the transaction through a payment link. The system eliminates the need for an external card reader when the phone includes the required near-field communication technology. Funds may reach the merchant’s account almost immediately, depending on the bank and local payment infrastructure.
Fast access to revenue can be particularly important for businesses operating with limited cash reserves. Visa reported that one in five small companies surveyed experiences cash-flow problems either daily or monthly. Nearly 28 percent also encountered difficulty obtaining credit or financing during the previous year. Receiving payments directly into an account may help merchants cover inventory, wages and operating expenses without waiting through lengthy settlement periods.
Visa Accept already operates in more than 25 countries through participating banks and financial institutions. Current partners include organizations in Sri Lanka, Guatemala and Vietnam, while additional banks in Kenya and Ghana are preparing to join the service. Visa expects the platform to reach millions of businesses worldwide by 2027. Availability, transaction costs and eligibility requirements will vary according to each financial institution and country.
The second tool, Visa Pay, connects local digital wallets and payment applications with Visa’s international network. Users can continue paying through an application they already know rather than obtaining a physical card for international transactions. Their digital wallet can then function at participating physical and online businesses accepting Visa. The service is already available in Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, with broader expansion planned throughout 2026.
For small merchants, Visa Pay could expand the number of payment methods they can accept without requiring separate systems for every wallet. It may also make transactions easier for international visitors who prefer using the payment application associated with their home country. Consumers gain greater continuity when traveling because their familiar wallet can operate beyond its original domestic network. The system depends on agreements between Visa, banks, wallet providers and local regulators.
Visa Direct completes the group by enabling businesses to send money from the same mobile environment used to receive payments. Owners can pay employees, contractors, delivery workers and suppliers, return funds to customers or transfer money across national borders. Payments may be directed to eligible cards, bank accounts or digital wallets. This functionality is intended to reduce the need for separate payroll, refund and international-transfer platforms.
The three services respond to demand from entrepreneurs seeking simpler financial management. More than half of the small companies surveyed by Visa said they would prefer to manage their finances through a single platform. Combining payment acceptance, local wallets and outgoing transfers could reduce administrative work and provide owners with a clearer view of their daily cash position. It may also allow mobile vendors, market sellers and service providers to operate without a permanent checkout counter.
Businesses must still evaluate fees, data protection, cybersecurity and local tax obligations before adopting the technology. Merchants should use only authorized applications, protect their devices with strong authentication and confirm every transaction before delivering goods. A smartphone functioning as a financial terminal contains sensitive commercial information and should receive the same security precautions as conventional banking equipment.
For millions of entrepreneurs, the next cash register may already be in their hands.