Peer-to-peer payment service Zelle is set to expand into India later this year, marking its first foray into an international market since its launch nearly a decade ago.
Early Warning Services, the operator behind the Zelle network, cited India as a “natural starting point” for its global ambitions.
This decision is underpinned by the significant volume of remittances sent to India, with approximately a third of all annual transfers originating from the United States, according to India’s central bank.
The company also announced plans for further international expansion and the creation of ZelleUSD, a US dollar-backed stablecoin intended to serve as a backbone for these future markets.
Since its inception nine years ago, Zelle has become a widely used platform for Americans to transfer money directly between bank accounts. In 2025 alone, consumers and small businesses transacted over $1.2 trillion through the service, Early Warning Services reported.
However, Zelle’s journey has not been without its challenges. The payment network has faced years of scrutiny regarding fraud and unauthorised transfers.
A lawsuit filed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in December 2024, addressing these concerns, was subsequently dropped with prejudice in March 2025 following a shift in the bureau’s leadership that saw a significant reduction in enforcement actions against financial companies.
Separately, a similar lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James is currently progressing through the New York court system.
Zelle is jointly owned by seven of the United States’ largest banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
