Venmo is rolling out its biggest redesign in five years, and sources close to the fintech world believe this is preparation for a sale.
According to TechCrunch, the peer-to-peer payments app is launching a comprehensive redesign that will change how users send money, split bills, and endorse local businesses. The rollout begins this week, with the full refresh arriving by fall.
PayPal, which owns Venmo, is restructuring to spin the app off as a standalone business unit. Insiders view this as a sign the company is preparing to sell.
Stripe, the payments giant, has reportedly expressed interest in acquiring PayPal outright. Venmo's new interface, in this context, looks less like routine maintenance and more like a property being prepared for market.
The redesign includes several upgrades. The feed now displays larger images, more personalized content, and new ways to respond to payments — reactions and quick-action buttons like "Pay Again" and "Say Thanks."
Venmo is also adding a "Give a Shoutout" button that lets users endorse their favorite local businesses directly in the app. Alexis Sowa, Venmo's SVP and general manager, told TechCrunch: "We're giving an opportunity for them to share what we call social proofing."
Two new tabs — Send and Money — are coming soon. The Send feed displays your most frequent contacts as profile icons, replacing the previous search interface. Bill-splitting Groups now support up to 30 people. Users can also schedule payments and send gifts.
Whether this redesign survives under new ownership or not, Venmo will feel substantially different. If Stripe proceeds, the fintech sector will face significant changes.
