Ant Group

Alipay has worked with First Data, Verifone, Ingenico and others to connect with merchants in North America, but more as a service for Chinese travelers than a direct competitor to existing payment providers.

The preparations underscore the trouble Chinese buyers face in persuading the panel that investigates foreign acquisitions to greenlight takeovers.

Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia can now use their Alipay mobile wallet at all 242 Starbucks locations in the country.

China's Alipay already has broad global reach—its mobile wallet is accepted at more than 100,000 retail locations in 70 international markets—but in North America it’s just getting started.

Alipay and WeChat Pay have become important drivers in the Chinese economy, putting the central bank in a position to force all third-party payment firms to connect to the new clearinghouse.

MoneyGram’s total revenue declined slightly during the second quarter to $410 million, resulting in flat growth compared to the previous quarter based on constant currency.

Germany-based Payworks is the latest to partner with Ant Financial’s Alipay as it works to expand the base of merchants capable of accepting the popular Chinese online and mobile payments app in Europe.

Ant Financial’s Alipay has formed a partnership with a large Malaysian bank, enabling the bank to advance its own mobile payments services using Alipay’s platform.

On the discussion table: Alipay, Jack Ma, blockchain, AI, building a true digital system, payments, financial inclusion.

Since e-commerce merchants often operate without walls, it makes little sense to operate with borders.

Stripe will collaborate with WeChat and Alipay to make it easier for merchants around the world to accept payments from Chinese consumers.

Consumers using the Alipay app will be able to find nearby merchants that accept the popular Chinese mobile wallet, and receive coupons for local deals.

Chinese tourists visiting Spain will be able to shop at Spanish stores using their Alipay mobile wallets through an agreement between BBVA Group and Ant Financial Services, the Alibaba affiliate that operates Alipay.

Ant Financial's Alipay, the payments affiliate of Alibaba, broke into the U.S. last year through a deal with First Data, and now it's expanding in Canada—alongside Tencent's WeChat—through partnerships orchestrated by Canadian tourism authorities.

Pizza Hut has played a large role in building China's middle class. It's also a major cog in Ant's investment in Yum China.

The Trump administration must weigh risks to national security in its review of the $1.2 billion deal. Its decision will shed light on whether — given the president’s “America First” rhetoric — Chinese investment is still welcome in the U.S. financial services sector.

Collaboration has now become a constant theme in the payments industry, where longtime enemies are putting aside their differences to survive in the fast-paced digital world.

Ant Financial, China’s largest provider of internet financial services, will continue investing in mobile-payment providers around the world to boost offshore revenue and buttress itself from rising competition and tighter regulation at home.

MoneyGram’s stockholders have voted to approve a deal to be purchased by China’s Ant Financial for $1.2 billion.

Alipay's big partnership with First Data will extend its merchant base, but travelers from China will benefit before U.S. consumers.