WeChat offers $25 to users who refer friends from the U.S.

WeChat, the popular messaging app that claimed Facebook’s mantle in China, is sharpening its focus on the US market, after quietly launching a campaign to reward users for recruiting their friends. The Wall Street Journal first spotted the scheme that rewards users who connect their Google account and invite five friends to the service with a $25 gift card from Restaurants.com.

Most smartphone users in the U.S. may be unfamiliar with WeChat, but they will hear about it soon. The fast-growing smartphone messaging application from China is now trying to expand in the U.S. market with a newly launched promotional campaign. WeChat, developed by Shenzhen-basedTencent HoldingsTCEHY -5.57%, is one of China’s hottest technology exports with more than 272 million monthly active users world-wide. While the majority of its users are still in China, the app since last year has been quickly adding new users in Asia and other overseas markets like South Africa and Spain.