SEBI UPI Payment: SEBI has launched @valid UPI handles and the SEBI Check tool to protect investors, preventing fraud and allowing investors to make payments directly to registered entities. This new system will help make transactions secure, reliable, and transparent.
To further strengthen digital payment security in India, market regulator SEBI has launched two new initiatives. This system, which came into effect on October 1, aims to protect investors from fraud and make transactions conducted through UPI more secure. Under this system, only UPI handles with @valid will be considered valid, and will be available exclusively to SEBI-registered brokers and mutual funds.
SEBI developed this feature in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The new UPI handle will end with category-specific tags, such as “.brk” for brokers and “.mf” for mutual funds. For example, a broker’s UPI address might be abc.brk@validhdfc, while a mutual fund’s might be xyz.mf@validicici. This will help investors quickly identify trustworthy entities.
A key indicator of this system will be a “thumb-up within a green triangle,” which will be displayed during the payment process. If this symbol is not displayed, investors will receive a warning that the transaction may be invalid or unauthorized. SEBI has also launched a digital verification tool called “SEBI Check,” which allows investors to independently verify the bank account or UPI ID of intermediaries. This can be used on SEBI’s official website or the Sarathi mobile app. This will further reduce the risk of fraud.
SEBI believes this change will make the transaction experience easier, faster, and less risk-free for investors. This system will also work with existing NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS options, providing investors with more payment options. Over the next few months, approximately 8,000 to 9,000 SEBI-registered institutions will adopt this new @valid UPI handle. After December 2025, only these valid forms will be accepted.
This initiative will not only reduce fraud but also enhance the credibility of digital payments in India’s financial markets. Investors can now be more confident about the security of their finances and invest with ease.
