Bitget rolls out USDT QR payments in LATAM and SE Asia

Bitget has launched Scan to Pay, a service now rolling out this week in selected markets across Latin America and Southeast Asia. The feature lets customers pay with USDT by scanning a merchant QR code and confirming a payment PIN.

Payments are routed through Bitget’s UEX ecosystem and processed on the exchange’s backend. The platform performs backend USDT conversion and settles transactions instantly without routing through local banks.

Merchants do not need to change their point-of-sale systems because Scan to Pay connects with existing local QR payment networks. Bitget says merchants can choose to receive settlement in local currency to avoid exposure to cryptocurrency price changes.

Bitget framed Scan to Pay as an extension of its UEX model, which links trading, asset custody and financial services to allow users to spend digital assets in everyday commerce.

Gracy Chen, Bitget CEO, noted: “QR code payments are already widely used in the real world, with over 2.2 billion users worldwide. Cryptocurrency should logically fit into this system, as it aligns with regular spending patterns.”

Bitget described the rollout as targeting areas where QR payments account for most retail transactions and as simplifying payments for mobile-first and underbanked populations in the covered markets.

Bitget added that the capability supports cross-border and traveler payments by shortening settlement times and reducing reliance on traditional banking rails.