Walmart Cracks Under Pressure, Accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay

Walmart has finally caved to pressure and will start accepting Apple Pay and Google Pay at select stores starting August 24. The company plans to expand support to all locations by the end of 2026, with fuel stations added by mid-2027.

The decision comes after years of resistance from Walmart, which had been a holdout since Apple Pay launched in 2014. In fact, Walmart and several other retailers supported an alternative called CurrentC, which used QR codes rather than NFC. However, CurrentC was hacked before its public launch and failed to gain traction.

The reasons behind Walmart's change of heart are unclear, but the company's recent stock performance is likely a factor. With the stock price at its lowest point in nine months and poor earnings guidance, analysts may view this as a business necessity.