China Just Handed Ant International the Keys to Your Wallet

A group of individuals at an outdoor food stall, with one person smiling and holding up a smartphone displaying a payment app, while others are engaged and looking towards the stall.

Ant International has just been named one of the first-ever Foreign Institution Partners (FIP) under China’s new Cross-Border Interconnection Payment Gateway (CPG), a move that could transform how millions of international users pay inside the country.

The appointment, made under the guidance of the People’s Bank of China and the Payment & Clearing Association of China, cements Ant’s position as the biggest player in China’s payment ecosystem — covering the widest range of partners, use cases, and transaction volumes.

Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer at @BingXOfficial, explains that this transition is driven by regulatory clarity, growing institutional participation, and the adoption of blockchain infrastructure by financial institutions.https://t.co/9g5IW9X1VA
— TBC News Official (@tbcnewsph) September 5, 2025

Through its cross-border payment service Alipay+, Ant International will now enjoy a direct connection to China’s financial infrastructure, allowing overseas e-wallets and bank cards to transact seamlessly with more than 80 million Chinese merchants. The new setup promises smoother, safer, and faster cross-border payments, benefiting travelers and global businesses alike.