The news: Venmo is getting its biggest UX refresh since 2021, per TechCrunch.

New updates will include a revamped feed and new tabs that make it easier to split payments among groups, connect with affiliated small businesses, and review rewards eligibility in Stash.

How we got here: Venmo’s interface has long been a complaint for users. Difficulty finding features like completing payment requests or splitting group payments threatened to chip away at users’ loyalty and push them to a competitor like Zelle or Cash App. 

Why this matters: Venmo is a growth engine for PayPal. Venmo’s TPV has grown by double digits for six consecutive quarters, per the company’s Q1 2026 earnings. 

Venmo’s users also skew younger, meaning PayPal has an opportunity to lock in lifetime customer relationships with Gen Zers—as long as it doesn’t alienate them because of a poor user experience.

Venmo needs to connect with consumers. After PayPal’s transition year failed to deliver on goals, Venmo showed promise—and could become an important pillar for PayPal to demonstrate it has a path forward after rumors that competitors were interested in a possible takeover bid. 

While Venmo has tailored its marketing toward Gen Z users through celebrities and sports, it still has to make sure the app is user friendly to secure its long-term loyalty.

Implications for digital wallets: Digital wallets should simplify consumers’ checkout experiences. Any disruption to that ease increases the likelihood that consumers will abandon the app—ruining the possibility of longer customer relationships and cross-selling opportunities down the line.

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