Philippines — GCash has recently introduced Tap to Pay, a contactless payment feature that allows users to make purchases at more than 150 million Mastercard acceptance points worldwide.
The service is powered by Near Field Communications (NFC) technology and made possible through a partnership with Alipay+ and Mastercard. Tap to Pay enables GCash account holders to use their existing e-wallet for tap-based payments abroad, removing the need for a physical credit or debit card.
GCash is among the first Alipay+ partners to adopt the solution, which complements its QR-based payments already available in over 50 destinations.
“At GCash, our goal has always been to drive financial innovation and create an inclusive, cashless ecosystem,” Ren-Ren Reyes, president and CEO of GCash said.
“With Tap to Pay, we’re not just modernising payments; we’re empowering Filipinos with a seamless experience and globally competitive solution that is locally relevant and universally accessible.”
The service enables users of NFC-enabled Android phones to complete transactions by tapping on Mastercard point-of-sale terminals. This expands the use of GCash across a wide range of merchants, from small retailers to large department stores, while also reducing the reliance on cash when travelling.
Security features such as authentication protocols and data encryption are also built into the system to safeguard transactions against fraud and tampering.
Douglas Feagan, president of Ant International, a Singapore-based fintech company specialising in global digital payments and cross-border financial solutions, mentioned that GCASH is a pioneer in driving digital payments, and is now one of the company’s first partners to enable Alipay+ NFC global payment capability.
“Alipay+’s collaboration with Mastercard is redefining a new future of global payments, enabling Alipay+’s partner wallets to be accepted at Mastercard NFC merchants around the world. We believe that greater interoperability between e-wallet and card systems is a trend of the future.”
The Tap to Pay service represents a step toward wider interoperability between e-wallets and card networks, simplifying cross-border payments and minimising the need to carry foreign currency or multiple cards.
