In a significant expansion of the BRICS Pay ecosystem, some of the largest retail chains across member nations have signed agreements to accept the cross-border payment platform, bringing the total merchant network to over 2 million locations.
The announcements came during "BRICS Commerce Week" in Shanghai, where retail executives from across the bloc gathered to discuss integration of the payment system. The partnerships span multiple countries and cover diverse retail categories.
Major Partnerships Announced
China
Alibaba Group — All 500,000 merchants on Alibaba's platforms (Taobao, Tmall, AliExpress) can now accept BRICS Pay. The integration covers both online transactions and physical Suning retail stores.
JD.com — China's second-largest e-commerce platform has integrated BRICS Pay for cross-border purchases, allowing international customers to pay directly in their home currencies.
India
Reliance Retail — India's largest retailer, operating over 18,000 stores across grocery, electronics, and fashion, has deployed BRICS Pay QR codes across all locations. This includes Reliance Jio Mart, Reliance Digital, and Reliance Trends.
Tata Group — Tata Motors showrooms and Tata Cliq e-commerce platform have adopted BRICS Pay, targeting the growing Indian diaspora traveling to BRICS nations.
Russia
Magnit — Russia's largest food retailer (15,000+ stores) now accepts BRICS Pay at all locations, from hypermarkets to convenience stores. The integration was accelerated following Western payment network restrictions.
X5 Retail Group — Operator of Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, and Karusel supermarkets has completed nationwide rollout.
"Our customers told us they wanted simpler payment options when visiting family across BRICS countries. BRICS Pay solves that problem elegantly." — Mukesh Ambani, Reliance Industries Chairman
Brazil
Magazine Luiza — One of Brazil's fastest-growing retailers has integrated BRICS Pay across its 1,500+ stores and e-commerce platform.
Mercado Livre — Latin America's largest e-commerce marketplace now supports BRICS Pay for cross-border sellers, with over 100,000 active Brazilian merchants participating.
What This Means for Consumers
The merchant expansion addresses one of the key barriers to payment system adoption: where to use it. With major retail chains on board, users can now:
- Shop at flagship stores in any BRICS country without currency concerns
- Use their home currency app to pay instantly at participating merchants
- Avoid foreign transaction fees typically charged by credit cards
- Receive dynamic currency conversion at transparent, competitive rates
Merchant Benefits
Retailers are equally enthusiastic about the partnership. Key benefits include:
- Access to International Customers: BRICS Pay users can easily spend at their stores, expanding the potential customer base
- Instant Settlement: Merchants receive payment in their local currency within seconds, eliminating payment processing delays
- Lower Fees: Transaction costs are significantly lower than traditional card processing, especially for international transactions
- No Chargebacks: Blockchain-based transactions are immutable, eliminating fraud-related chargebacks
QR Code Integration
All participating merchants display the unified BRICS Pay QR code — a distinctive hexagonal design that works across all member nations. Customers simply scan the code with their BRICS Pay app, confirm the amount, and payment is processed instantly.
The standardization means the same QR code works whether you're paying in Shanghai or São Paulo, removing the confusion of multiple regional payment systems.
Expansion Plans
BRICS Pay announced plans to extend partnerships to:
- Q2 2026: Fashion and luxury retailers including LVMH partner stores
- Q3 2026: Hospitality sector — hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies
- Q4 2026: Transportation including ride-sharing and car rentals
- 2027: Government services and utility payments
With the merchant network now exceeding 2 million locations, BRICS Pay is transitioning from a niche solution to a mainstream payment option across the bloc. The question is no longer whether BRICS Pay will work — it's how quickly it will become the default for intra-BRICS commerce.