WorldFirst, the payment firm of Ant International, has secured approval to provide payment services in Malaysia.

Ant International said in a statement on Thursday that it has obtained approval from Malaysian Central Bank to carry out business under a Class A Money Services Business license.

The license will empower the firm’s WorldFirst — an all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury account service for global businesses — to operate in Malaysia, adding to its 60+ global licenses worldwide.

The license will enable WorldFirst to expand its product offerings and roll out new services in Malaysia, facilitating international payments, especially in receiving foreign currency payments globally, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to manage their cross-border transactions more efficiently.

It further strengthens WorldFirst’s capabilities in supporting businesses expanding both into and out of the Malaysian market.

It is noted that the Going-Global: Seizing the Next Great Opportunity in Digital Trade report (Deloitte & WorldFirst) identifies Malaysia as a high-potential market with strong digital trade growth.

The country’s digital economy is now a key growth driver, with e-commerce gross merchandise value (GMV) projected to reach $16 billion by 2025 and $25 billion by 2030.

The rapid digitalization is fuelling demand for innovative financial services across Southeast Asia, with Malaysia emerging as a regional leader.

WorldFirst finds Malaysian merchants more actively seeking multi-currency solutions and adopting more diverse payment methods than regional peers.

They prioritize these key factors: faster transaction settlement, competitive foreign exchange (FX) rates with hedging solutions and diversified financial product offerings.

Recognizing the specific demands of Malaysian merchants, WorldFirst aims to deliver tailored solutions featuring global coverage, secure transactions and operational efficiency—essential foundations for Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)’ success in today’s digital economy.

Central to this offering is the World Account, WorldFirst’s flagship product that combines global payments, collections, FX conversion, and treasury management in one single account.

Sellers can effortlessly collect from 130+ marketplaces (including Amazon, Walmart, etc.), while buyers can gain easy payment solutions for international sourcing.

WorldFirst has also established localized operations in Malaysia to provide tailored support for SMEs pursuing global expansion.

This move aligns with its parent company Ant International’s strategic investment in the country, including the launch of a Digital Business Center focused on harnessing local tech talent to drive global innovation.

“The license marks a significant milestone in WorldFirst’s commitment to Southeast Asia,

“More importantly, it enables us to better serve Southeast Asian SMEs with secure, compliant cross-border financial services while contributing to the region’s digital ecosystem,” said Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant International and Chief Executive Officer of WorldFirst.

In 2025, WorldFirst leverages its experience serving over 1.2 million SMEs worldwide through products like the newly launched World Card with Mastercard.

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