Ant International has marked 2024 as a landmark year, driven by a significant expansion of its Alipay+ services and record-breaking growth across its key business units. The fintech giant is enhancing cross-border payments and digital services for millions of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally. CEO Peng Yang highlighted the company’s focus on blending AI with commerce to foster inclusive and transformative growth for businesses everywhere.
Alipay+ Expands its Global Footprint
Alipay+ has dramatically increased its international presence this year, connecting a vast network of merchants and users. The platform now partners with 35 top mobile payment services, creating a seamless payment ecosystem for everyone involved.
This network now includes over 90 million merchants across 66 different markets. This expansion provides access to a massive user base of 1.6 billion accounts, simplifying cross-border transactions for travelers and online shoppers alike. The growth is not just in numbers but in impact, especially for smaller businesses.
Notably, over 90% of the merchants utilizing QR code payments through Alipay+ are small and medium-sized businesses. This statistic underscores Ant International’s commitment to democratizing digital tools and making global commerce accessible to entrepreneurs who form the backbone of local economies. While Alipay remains a dominant force, other cross-border transactions on the network have tripled year-on-year, showing broad-based growth.
Antom and WorldFirst Smash Growth Records
Antom, the company’s dedicated merchant payment service, has experienced phenomenal growth. From January to November 2024, its total payment volume nearly doubled compared to the same period last year. A key driver has been the enhancement of its card processing capabilities, which saw volume surge by more than tenfold.
Merchants have praised Antom for its high authorization rates and innovative solutions designed to simplify operations. These key developments include:
- Antom Copilot: An AI-powered tool that drastically reduces merchant integration time from several days to just a few minutes.
- EasySafePay: A feature that streamlines wallet payments, significantly improving transaction success rates for businesses.
Meanwhile, WorldFirst, Ant’s digital payment platform for global businesses, achieved a major milestone. Five years after its acquisition, WorldFirst processed a total payment volume of US$100 billion in 2024 alone. This figure is four times its volume from 2020 and demonstrates its crucial role in supporting over one million SMEs worldwide as they expand into new markets.
Tech Innovation Drives Efficiency and Security
At the heart of Ant International’s success is its Embedded Finance division, where teams are leveraging cutting-edge AI and blockchain technology. These innovations are not just improving existing services but creating entirely new efficiencies for merchants.
One standout development is the Time-Series Transformer AI FX Model. This advanced AI tool predicts currency needs for treasury management with over 90% accuracy, helping millions of merchants reduce costs and manage financial uncertainties more effectively.
Blockchain technology has also become integral to operations. It now enables real-time, 24/7 cross-border settlements, providing unmatched speed and reliability. This technology is already handling over a third of Ant International’s total processing volume, showcasing its scalability and efficiency.
| Technology | Key Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| AI FX Model | Predicts currency needs | Reduces costs and uncertainty for merchants |
| Blockchain | Enables 24/7 real-time settlements | Increases speed and reliability of transactions |
Fostering Inclusive Growth for Underserved Businesses
Ant International is deeply committed to financial inclusion, a mission championed through its ANEXT Bank and the bettr credit service. Operating in markets like Bangladesh and Indonesia, bettr collaborates with local fintech partners to provide crucial funding to those often overlooked by traditional banks.
The service offers uncollateralized loans to over 11 million underserved businesses and individuals. By using fairer, data-driven credit rating models, bettr helps first-time borrowers access the capital they need to start or grow their businesses.
The impact is clear. In 2024, the total value of loans under management more than doubled from the previous year, proving the high demand and success of this inclusive financing model. It’s a powerful testament to Ant’s goal of supporting SME growth across borders.
Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond
With a successful 2024 behind them, Ant International is setting its sights on the future. CEO Peng Yang has stated that 2025 will be focused on deepening support for SMEs through trusted and innovative solutions.
The roadmap includes further advancements in AI-powered payments, greater digitalization tools for businesses, and expanded inclusive financing initiatives. Collaboration will remain a core strategy, with Ant International planning to work closely with partners in both the public and private sectors to continue driving global growth and innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alipay+?
Alipay+ is a suite of cross-border digital payment and marketing solutions from Ant International. It connects global merchants with various mobile payment platforms, allowing consumers to pay with their preferred local e-wallets when traveling or shopping online internationally.
How is Ant International helping small businesses?
Ant International helps SMEs by providing accessible digital payment tools through Alipay+, efficient merchant services via Antom, and global payment solutions with WorldFirst. It also offers uncollateralized loans through its bettr service to support underserved entrepreneurs.
What role does AI play in Ant International’s services?
AI is central to Ant International’s strategy. It powers tools like the Antom Copilot for faster merchant integration and the Time-Series Transformer AI FX Model, which predicts currency needs with over 90% accuracy to help businesses save money.
What was WorldFirst’s major achievement in 2024?
In 2024, WorldFirst, Ant International’s platform for global businesses, reached a significant milestone by processing a total payment volume of US$100 billion. This amount is four times higher than its volume in 2020.
What are Ant International’s plans for 2025?
For 2025, Ant International plans to continue its focus on supporting SMEs with innovative solutions. Key areas include advancing AI-powered payments, promoting further digitalization, and expanding inclusive financing programs through strategic collaborations.
