SEBI Validated UPI system is officially launching on October 1, 2025, in a major move to protect investors and stop payment fraud in India’s securities market. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced that all registered intermediaries like stock brokers and mutual funds must now use a new, verified UPI payment method marked with a unique handle — @valid.
This structured payment system will help investors make secure payments only to SEBI-approved intermediaries, while blocking scams from fake agents or unregistered firms.
Why Is SEBI Launching a Validated UPI System?
Over the past few years, many investors have been tricked by unregistered firms collecting money under false identities. SEBI found that some entities collected payments directly from investors using personal UPI IDs, which were impossible to track or verify.
To stop this, SEBI’s Validated UPI System introduces:
- Verified UPI handles ending with @valid
- Visual trust signals (a thumbs-up in a green triangle)
- Mandatory QR codes for every transaction
- A new tool called “SEBI Check” for verifying payment addresses
What Is a SEBI Validated UPI Address?
This new system requires every SEBI-registered intermediary (like brokers or mutual funds) to use:
- Structured UPI username (e.g. abc.brk@validbank)
- @valid handle (assigned only to verified intermediaries)
- Thumbs-up green triangle icon as a trust marker
- Mandatory QR code showing this visual sign
👉 This setup ensures investors don’t accidentally send money to fake or fraudulent UPI IDs.
Introducing SEBI Check Tool: Instant UPI Verification
To make things easier for everyday investors, SEBI is launching a tool called “SEBI Check.” With this tool, users can:
- Scan a QR code or manually enter a UPI ID
- See whether it’s a valid SEBI-registered intermediary
- View bank account details like IFSC and account number
- Avoid payments to unknown or risky sources
This tool will be available starting October 1, 2025, alongside the new UPI system.
Key Benefits of the SEBI Validated UPI System
This major change delivers powerful protections for retail investors:
✅ Investor Confidence: You’ll always know you’re paying a legit intermediary
✅ Fewer Frauds: Fake brokers won’t receive direct payments
✅ Visual Security: If you don’t see the green triangle icon, stop the payment
✅ Faster Trust: Safe payments will boost digital trading activity
✅ Easy Tracking: All UPI handles will be linked to SEBI-registered databases
👉 Check out our full coverage on SEBI and market reforms
👉 Read the official SEBI press release
Final Thoughts
The SEBI Validated UPI System isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a major leap forward in digital trust. By introducing @valid UPI handles and the “SEBI Check” tool, the regulator is making it nearly impossible for scammers to steal money via fake IDs. For investors and traders, this means one thing: your money is safer than ever before.