Ant International Steps Up AI Push for SMEs and Emerging Markets

Ant International has tied management performance reviews to sustainability metrics for the first time, the company said yesterday (Monday) as it published its second annual sustainability report alongside fresh disclosures on its small-business reach and artificial intelligence push.

The report broke out reach across the firm’s main services.

Alipay+ and Antom, under Global Payment pillars, now connect 2 billion user accounts globally to over 150 million merchants. This ecosystem of interoperability links up more than 10 national QR systems and supports 300+ payment methods in over 220 markets, including all card schemes, and 50 digital wallets, bank apps and BNPL apps, the company said.

Ant International also noted that its Global Account and Embedded Finance services – WorldFirst and Bettr, support over 1.6 million SMEs, and provide credit access to about 30 million micro- and small-sized businesses and underserved users.

Executive Pay Linked to Sustainability Targets

Chairman Eric Jing said the firm has folded sustainability outcomes into the framework used to evaluate management’s performance, putting them alongside revenue growth and operational efficiency.

“Accountability must be structural, not aspirational,” Jing said in the report.

The disclosure goes further than most global payments rivals on linking executive pay to ESG outcomes, including Wise, which has built its B2B platform around SME and freelancer clients but has not made similar pay-link commitments.

CEO Peng Yang and President Douglas Feagin said in a joint statement that “doing great by doing good should be our strategic differentiator.”

AI Push Centers on Small Business Tools

A large portion of the report is given over to artificial intelligence products. Antom released an updated version of its Copilot tool to automate payment integration, onboarding and chargeback work, and launched an agentic payment product that the firm says lets AI agents initiate card and alternative-method transactions through a mandate model.

Other launches include the GenAI Cockpit, a FinAI-as-a-Service platform that Ant International said has been adopted by Malaysia’s TNG eWallet and Pakistan’s easypaisa.

According to the company, its open-sourced AI foreign exchange tool delivers forecasts with up to 93% accuracy across volatile currency pairs.

EPOS360, an AI-powered platform covering finance and business operations for micro-merchants, has been rolled out in Southeast Asia, the firm said.

Compliance Build-Out

Ant International said it spent 2025 building out compliance and security infrastructure, citing a transformer model called SHIELD that the firm says has 7 billion parameters and identifies high-risk transactions with more than 95% precision. The tool also lifts payment success rates by up to 13.5%.

Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission cited Alipay+’s Privacy Enhancing Technology program in its practical guidance for industry, Ant International noted.

The firm has also been using digital platforms to drive public participation in sustainability projects. AlipayHK, which runs a digital donation portal that lets users contribute to relief efforts, channeled HK$200 million from 450,000 users in three days after a Tai Po fire, the report said.

Alipay+ began supporting New York Liberty, the WNBA champion team on Liberty Sneaker Drives for underprivileged groups, Math Hoops project to build youth skills, and Threes for Trees project in NYC and Brooklyn.

Ant International has tied management performance reviews to sustainability metrics for the first time, the company said yesterday (Monday) as it published its second annual sustainability report alongside fresh disclosures on its small-business reach and artificial intelligence push.

The report broke out reach across the firm’s main services.

Alipay+ and Antom, under Global Payment pillars, now connect 2 billion user accounts globally to over 150 million merchants. This ecosystem of interoperability links up more than 10 national QR systems and supports 300+ payment methods in over 220 markets, including all card schemes, and 50 digital wallets, bank apps and BNPL apps, the company said.

Ant International also noted that its Global Account and Embedded Finance services – WorldFirst and Bettr, support over 1.6 million SMEs, and provide credit access to about 30 million micro- and small-sized businesses and underserved users.

Executive Pay Linked to Sustainability Targets

Chairman Eric Jing said the firm has folded sustainability outcomes into the framework used to evaluate management’s performance, putting them alongside revenue growth and operational efficiency.

“Accountability must be structural, not aspirational,” Jing said in the report.

The disclosure goes further than most global payments rivals on linking executive pay to ESG outcomes, including Wise, which has built its B2B platform around SME and freelancer clients but has not made similar pay-link commitments.

CEO Peng Yang and President Douglas Feagin said in a joint statement that “doing great by doing good should be our strategic differentiator.”

AI Push Centers on Small Business Tools

A large portion of the report is given over to artificial intelligence products. Antom released an updated version of its Copilot tool to automate payment integration, onboarding and chargeback work, and launched an agentic payment product that the firm says lets AI agents initiate card and alternative-method transactions through a mandate model.

Other launches include the GenAI Cockpit, a FinAI-as-a-Service platform that Ant International said has been adopted by Malaysia’s TNG eWallet and Pakistan’s easypaisa.

According to the company, its open-sourced AI foreign exchange tool delivers forecasts with up to 93% accuracy across volatile currency pairs.

EPOS360, an AI-powered platform covering finance and business operations for micro-merchants, has been rolled out in Southeast Asia, the firm said.

Compliance Build-Out

Ant International said it spent 2025 building out compliance and security infrastructure, citing a transformer model called SHIELD that the firm says has 7 billion parameters and identifies high-risk transactions with more than 95% precision. The tool also lifts payment success rates by up to 13.5%.

Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission cited Alipay+’s Privacy Enhancing Technology program in its practical guidance for industry, Ant International noted.

The firm has also been using digital platforms to drive public participation in sustainability projects. AlipayHK, which runs a digital donation portal that lets users contribute to relief efforts, channeled HK$200 million from 450,000 users in three days after a Tai Po fire, the report said.

Alipay+ began supporting New York Liberty, the WNBA champion team on Liberty Sneaker Drives for underprivileged groups, Math Hoops project to build youth skills, and Threes for Trees project in NYC and Brooklyn.

Read More
FM Contributors

Latest

8 UNESCO-listed rock-cut religious sites you should visit at least once

8 UNESCO-listed rock-cut religious sites you should visit at least once For centuries, communities have carved places of worship, monasteries, shrines and monumental sculptures into cliffs and hillsides. Today, these rock-... 1/8 Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, India | A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the Ajanta Caves comprise 30 rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating from the

Top Cryptos Other Than Bitcoin and Ethereum Poised to Benefit From the CLARITY Act

The upcoming CLARITY Act is widely expected to reshape the U.S. crypto market by providing regulatory clarity for digital assets. While Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are likely to remain the primary institutional beneficiaries, several altcoins could also gain from increased institutional participation. From cryptos with active ETF ambitions to blockchain ecosystems powering tokenization and

ONDO Price Eyes $0.665 After Breakout and Major SBI Tokenization Deal

You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / ONDO Price Eyes $0.665 After Breakout and Major SBI Tokenization Deal Ondo Finance (ONDO) is gaining bullish momentum after confirming a breakout from its downtrend, with analysts watching for continued strength for the ONDO price. Meanwhile, its partnership with Japan’s SBI Group advances real-world asset tokenization and

Payroll Tax Obligations for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you face various payroll tax obligations that can impact your bottom line. Comprehending what constitutes payroll taxes, the responsibilities you have as an employer, and the deadlines for payments is fundamental. From FICA contributions to unemployment taxes, managing these requirements accurately is vital. Failure to comply could lead to penalties

Newsletter

Don't miss

8 UNESCO-listed rock-cut religious sites you should visit at least once

8 UNESCO-listed rock-cut religious sites you should visit at least once For centuries, communities have carved places of worship, monasteries, shrines and monumental sculptures into cliffs and hillsides. Today, these rock-... 1/8 Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra, India | A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the Ajanta Caves comprise 30 rock-cut Buddhist monuments dating from the

Top Cryptos Other Than Bitcoin and Ethereum Poised to Benefit From the CLARITY Act

The upcoming CLARITY Act is widely expected to reshape the U.S. crypto market by providing regulatory clarity for digital assets. While Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are likely to remain the primary institutional beneficiaries, several altcoins could also gain from increased institutional participation. From cryptos with active ETF ambitions to blockchain ecosystems powering tokenization and

ONDO Price Eyes $0.665 After Breakout and Major SBI Tokenization Deal

You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / ONDO Price Eyes $0.665 After Breakout and Major SBI Tokenization Deal Ondo Finance (ONDO) is gaining bullish momentum after confirming a breakout from its downtrend, with analysts watching for continued strength for the ONDO price. Meanwhile, its partnership with Japan’s SBI Group advances real-world asset tokenization and

Payroll Tax Obligations for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you face various payroll tax obligations that can impact your bottom line. Comprehending what constitutes payroll taxes, the responsibilities you have as an employer, and the deadlines for payments is fundamental. From FICA contributions to unemployment taxes, managing these requirements accurately is vital. Failure to comply could lead to penalties

5 Proven Strategies for Ecommerce Customer Acquisition

If you’re looking to boost customer acquisition for your eCommerce business, you need a clear plan. Start by leveraging targeted paid ads to connect with users ready to buy. Don’t overlook SEO, as it enhances your organic visibility. Consider email marketing with segmented lists for more personalized outreach. Collaborate with influencers to reach niche audiences

Want Your Business to Be Seen Everywhere? Meet Tonia Ryan, Creator of Fix Your Search

Some people are good at their jobs. Then there is Tonia Ryan, who has turned “getting found online” into something close to magic. She is the creator of Fix Your Search, and if you have ever wondered why some businesses pop up everywhere while others seem invisible...

Grey Business processes $61 million as stablecoins dominate payments

Grey Business enables startups and SMEs to open US Dollar (USD) corporate accounts, send and receive international payments, convert currencies, and transact using stablecoins such as USDC and USDT...

Utah Marketers to Host Free Business Networking Event in Layton on June 24

The custom web design company is hosting free monthly networking events for Northern Utah business leaders, with the next event scheduled for June 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. Utah Marketers is hosting a free local business networking event on June 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the company’s Layton office. The event is