Ant International Eyes $1B Raise as Global Payments Growth Accelerates

TLDR

• Ant International weighs $1B raise as global payments growth accelerates.
• The fintech unit seeks a $10B valuation after eight profitable quarters.
• Alipay+ anchors Ant International’s payment network across 100 markets.
• Whale blockchain rails now support treasury and settlement expansion.
• Stablecoin license plans signal Ant International’s next growth phase.

Ant International is considering a $1 billion fundraising round as its global payments business expands across key markets. The Singapore-based fintech unit seeks a valuation of at least $10 billion. The move follows eight straight profitable quarters and rising cross-border transaction activity.

Ant International Targets Fresh Capital for Global Expansion

Ant Group’s overseas arm has opened early talks with potential backers for fresh capital. The fundraising could support wider payment coverage, merchant services and blockchain-based settlement tools. It also reflects stronger momentum outside mainland China.

Ant International generated about $3.7 billion in revenue during 2025, according to Bloomberg. That figure marked roughly 25% growth from the previous year. Although the unit contributes about 10% of Ant Group revenue, its growth has outpaced domestic operations.

The company operates from Singapore and has its own board structure. Therefore, Ant International now plays a central role in Ant Group’s overseas strategy. A successful raise could also support expectations for a future Hong Kong listing.

Cross Border Payments Drive Revenue Momentum

Alipay+ remains central to Ant International and its global payments push. The network links local wallets and payment systems across more than 100 markets. It connects more than 150 million merchants with over 2 billion consumers.

The model allows consumers to pay through familiar domestic wallets while merchants receive local settlement. This structure reduces payment friction for travel, retail, and digital commerce. It also helps Ant International build scale without relying on one market.

Beyond Alipay+, the company runs Antom, WorldFirst, and Bettr for global commerce services. Antom supports merchant acquiring for international brands, while WorldFirst serves small businesses. Bettr offers lending and foreign exchange tools for smaller merchants.

Blockchain Settlement Becomes a Core Growth Layer

Ant International has also expanded Whale, its blockchain platform for payment and treasury activity. Previous company figures showed more than $1 trillion moved through its network in 2024. About one-third of those transactions used blockchain rails.

The company has tested Whale with Standard Chartered for liquidity transfers in Singapore dollars. Earlier trials also covered Hong Kong dollar settlement across financial channels. Both firms participate in Hong Kong’s Ensemble Sandbox for tokenization use cases.

Ant International has added USDC into parts of its cross-border payment infrastructure through Circle. The integration allows selected transactions to settle through blockchain networks instead of older banking routes. Meanwhile, Ant International plans stablecoin license applications in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Luxembourg.

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