Over the past few years, China has maintained its place as a front-runner in global technological advancements. From developing humanoid robots to upgrading healthcare systems, the country continues to lead the way in innovation. One of the most recent examples making headlines is a palm-based payment method being used at local grocery stores.
A video that’s now going viral shows a man visiting a 7-Eleven convenience store in China.
He buys a bottle of sparkling water and pays simply by scanning his palm. The process appears seamless, needing no card, phone, or wallet. “That’s my WeChat ID and I paid without having my cards or my wallet on me or my phone, which is pretty crazy! Mindblowing!” he exclaims in the video.
Watch video:
Indians : Cash is the king
Meanwhile in china : pic.twitter.com/1jgpUnKzSO
— Coach Rajan (@sibalsahab) April 13, 2025
The futuristic payment method has left viewers around the world stunned. “This is definitely one level up than UPI,” one user commented. Sharing the video, another X user wrote, “Indians: Cash is the king. Meanwhile in China!”
The post quickly went viral, with many comparing China’s tech-forward approach to India’s popular UPI system. “If someone would have sent me this video on 1st April, I would consider this video a prank. China is 50 years ahead…” wrote a third user.
According to The Debrief, Weixin’s palm recognition service was first launched in May 2023, initially used on Beijing’s airport express train line and at Shenzhen University. By September, the technology had already been introduced at over 1,500 7-Eleven outlets across Guangdong province.
The palm scanning system is now being used across various sectors such as retail, transportation, education, fitness centers, and even power bank rental stations. Users just need to align their palm with a scanner and complete a short registration process via a mobile app, the report adds.
As the touchless payment method gains popularity, many are left wondering—could this be the future of payments everywhere?
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