The BRICS Pay mobile application has crossed the 10 million downloads milestone, marking a significant inflection point in adoption of the cross-border payment platform.
The milestone was announced at a press conference in Dubai, where BRICS Pay CEO Ahmed Al-Rashid presented data showing the app has grown from 1 million downloads in early 2025 to 10 million by March 2026 — a 10x increase in just over a year.
What's Driving the Growth
Several factors have contributed to the rapid adoption:
1. Travel Resurgence
Post-pandemic travel within the BRICS bloc has surged, with intra-BRICS tourism reaching record levels. Chinese tourists in Russia, Indian visitors to Brazil, and South African business travelers across the bloc have discovered BRICS Pay as the most convenient payment solution.
2. Merchant Acceptance
The network of merchants accepting BRICS Pay has expanded dramatically. Over 2 million retailers across member nations now accept the payment method, up from 200,000 in 2024. Major chains including Alibaba-affiliated stores, India's Reliance Retail, and Brazil's Magazine Luiza have integrated the platform.
3. Ease of Use
User feedback consistently praises the app's simplicity. "I just scan a QR code and pay in my home currency," said frequent traveler Chen Wei from Guangzhou. "No more worrying about exchange rates or credit card fees."
"Ten million downloads is just the beginning. We project 100 million users by 2028 as we expand to partner nations and introduce new features." — Ahmed Al-Rashid, BRICS Pay CEO
Regional Breakdown
The 10 million downloads are distributed across BRICS nations:
- China: 4.2 million downloads — largest user base, driven by outbound tourism
- India: 2.8 million downloads — strong adoption among business travelers
- Russia: 1.5 million downloads — accelerated by Western payment restrictions
- Brazil: 800,000 downloads — growing among Mercosur travelers
- South Africa: 400,000 downloads — emerging market with high growth potential
- UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran: 300,000 combined — new members joining rapidly
New Features Announced
To celebrate the milestone, BRICS Pay announced several upcoming features:
- Offline Mode: Users will be able to make QR payments even without internet connectivity
- Multi-Account Support: Families can manage multiple profiles from a single device
- Expense Tracking: Automatic categorization and reporting for business users
- Crypto Integration: Optional linking to digital asset wallets for advanced users
Looking Ahead
The 10 million mark positions BRICS Pay as a serious contender in the international payments space. While still dwarfed by established players like PayPal (400+ million users) and WeChat Pay (900+ million users), BRICS Pay's growth trajectory suggests it could become a dominant force within its target market.
The next phase of expansion will focus on onboarding small and medium enterprises, integrating with ride-sharing apps, and rolling out in new partner countries. With the Johannesburg Payment Accord setting the regulatory framework, the foundation is being laid for truly borderless commerce.