PayNet and Ant International deepen collaboration to enhance AI-powered security and improve cross-border payments.
Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), Malaysia’s national payments network, and Ant International signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at MyFintech Week 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.
The agreement, witnessed by Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Dato’ Sri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, expands the partnership between the two organisations and introduces initiatives that leverage Ant International’s artificial intelligence capabilities to strengthen security and innovation.
The collaboration focuses on four areas: enabling seamless cross-border payments, advancing fraud prevention through AI-powered technology, nurturing fintech talent, and promoting sustainability.
A key highlight is the planned acceptance of Malaysia’s DuitNow QR across Alipay+’s merchant ecosystem of more than 100 million outlets worldwide. This will allow Malaysian travellers to pay with their local e-wallets and banking apps abroad.
Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, said: “We are committed to deepening our investments and partnerships in Malaysia, to help strengthen its position as a key fintech hub in Southeast Asia, and drive inclusive growth in the region and beyond with world-class innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Farhan Ahmad, Group Chief Executive Officer of PayNet, said: “Not only will this partnership drive global acceptance of our DuitNow payments, it is the beginning of a deep collaboration around reducing fraud, developing future-ready talent, and building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient digital global payments ecosystem – one that benefits Malaysians at home and while travelling, as well as tourists visiting our country.”
Ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, the two organisations will also intensify joint campaigns to promote Malaysia as a destination and increase exposure for local businesses.
The agreement also establishes cooperation on fraud defence, combining threat intelligence sharing, AI-powered detection systems, and fraud risk audits.
Talent development remains a key pillar, with initiatives such as PayHack, Malaysia’s largest intervarsity hackathon, and programmes led by Ant International’s Digital Business Centre in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at cultivating the next generation of fintech talent.
Complementing these efforts, PayNet and Ant International will collaborate on sustainability-focused initiatives in mobile payments, including SME inclusion and accessibility-driven projects.
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