Apple researching how to enhance security of future QR code Apple Pay transactions

In July, a code leak from the second iOS 14 beta indicated Apple Pay had a new feature on the way for Code Payment, which would enable Apple Pay transactions to take place via QR codes. By scanning a code displayed in-store, this would instruct the Wallet app to perform the transaction via Apple Pay's servers over its own cellular system. In a patent granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday titled "Effecting payments using optical coupling," there is more evidence that Apple has considered using the technique for some time.