How is SBPey organized
After Apple Pay and Google Pay were disabled, contactless payments from a mobile device became possible in Russia with SBPey, launched on April 1. This service enables buyers to pay for goods and services by scanning QR codes with a smartphone.
QR code payments are now common in many parts of Asia where traditional card terminals are less widespread. To complete a transaction, a consumer simply points the device’s camera at the merchant’s QR code, and a dedicated app opens. The buyer checks the amount to be charged and taps the payment button. Funds are debited from the account, eliminating the need to carry a physical card for every purchase.
SBPey is built on the Fast Payment System, an initiative of the Central Bank of Russia. The operator supports not only payments but also the generation of receipts. In terms of speed, the process is comparable to payments made with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
As of now, 54 banks are connected to SBPey. While several major institutions like Sberbank, Tinkoff, and Alfa Bank participate, many of the connections come from institutions less familiar to the broader Russian public. Initially, the Central Bank urged banks to enable SBPey access for their customers through the SBPey mobile app by April 1, with penalties for late implementation in some cases.
However, on March 31 the Central Bank extended the deadline and announced that fines would not apply until July 1 of the year. The SBPey app is available for Android devices running at least version 6.0 and for iOS devices starting from version 13.
around the QR codes
Maxim Kurganov, a Russian resident who spent over five years in China, has traveled extensively across the country and observed how QR code payments have taken hold in many cities, including southern provinces and northern regions. He notes that a similar QR system is well established in China, with two primary competitors: Tencent’s WeChat and Alibaba’s Alipay.
In his experience, almost everyone in China uses WeChat or Alipay, and it is common to see QR-based payments accepted across shops and eateries. He even recalls seeing a homeless individual with a QR code displayed on a cart used for donations.
To pay with a QR code in China, a user typically creates an account with a Chinese bank. The bank issues a debit card linked to WeChat and Alipay, and the apps themselves include a QR scanner. A user scans, confirms the withdrawal, and may verify the transaction with a fingerprint or a card-linked code, depending on the phone model.
WeChat began as a messaging app but has evolved into an all-in-one platform. It now supports messaging, social networking, ticket bookings for transportation and events, bill payments, clinic appointments, and more. Transfers can be made directly through chats via QR codes. Alipay functions as a robust mobile wallet with features similar to WeChat, though its social features are more limited.
Alipay serves as a key payment system for major Chinese marketplaces such as Alibaba, Taobao, and TMall, among others.
Why QR
Kurganov explains several reasons for the rapid adoption of QR code payments in China. First, the system is designed for user convenience: a single app can host numerous life services and enable payments with one tap.
He adds that such an arrangement also provides a wealth of data about consumer behavior. While data collection helps tailor services, it also raises concerns about privacy and how spending information is used.
The QR payment trend emerged with Alibaba’s Alipay in 2004 and gained widespread adoption as Chinese e-commerce platforms expanded in the 2010s. For retailers, QR payments can improve conversion by reducing the steps between product discovery and checkout. In offline settings, the absence of plastic cards or cash wallets lowers theft risk and simplifies the payment process. The broader movement toward cashless transactions has continued to grow, with initiatives like the digital yuan being explored as a logical extension of payment technology.
Regarding Apple Pay or Google Pay in China, the situation is nuanced. While these services exist, traditional options such as cash and bank cards remain popular. QR-based systems have also proven effective outside China, with examples of Alipay usage in places like Thailand through local retail networks.