Ant International
Financial technology company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ant International is a Singapore-based financial technology company that provides digital payment, digitization, and financial services across international markets, including Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.[1]
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial technology |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Headquarters | |
| Key people |
|
| Website | www |
History
Ant International was founded in 2023 as part of Ant Group’s initiative to expand its services beyond the Chinese mainland.[2] It initially operated as the global business arm of Ant Group, focusing on digital payments and financial services in international markets.[3]
In March 2024, Ant Group announced a restructuring of some of its operations into independently managed business units.[4] As a result of this reorganization, Ant International became an independently operated company.[5] Following its establishment, the company introduced several digital finance platforms and expanded its services globally.[6]
In July 2026, Ant International raised US$1.2 billion in an equity funding round in which Ant Group and Alibaba Group participated. The company said the capital would support its global expansion in merchant payments, account management and other financial services for enterprises.[7]
Subsidiaries
WorldFirst
WorldFirst was founded in 2004 in the United Kingdom with the aim of simplifying foreign-exchange processes for SMEs.[8] Between 2007 and 2008, the company launched its online platform and expanded through e-commerce and corporate FX services.[9]
WorldFirst began international expansion in 2009 with the opening of its first overseas office in Sydney, followed by additional offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Netherlands, Japan, and Korea between 2013 and 2016.[10]
In 2019, WorldFirst became a part of Ant Group (formerly Ant Financial) and expanded its services across Asia and other emerging markets.[11]
In 2024, Ant Group announced a reorganization of its operations, where WorldFirst moved into its international group.[12][13]
In 2025, WorldFirst expanded into Thailand, and further secured a license from Bank Negara Malaysia to operate in Malaysia.[14]