payments
Hong Kong's AsiaPay expands into Japan and Canada, reaching 14 markets
Hong Kong-based digital payments firm AsiaPay said on 12 November that it is expanding into Japan and Canada, its 13th and 14th markets. Merchants in those countries, it says, will be able to use a single platform for ecommerce checkout, card tokenisation and Asian alternative payment methods.
Key takeaways
- AsiaPay said on 12 November that it is expanding into Japan and Canada, its 13th and 14th markets.
- The company is headquartered in Hong Kong, was founded in 2000, and has 19 operational offices worldwide.
- Merchants can use a single platform for ecommerce checkout, card tokenisation, anti-fraud tools and Asian alternative payments.
- The announcement did not give a local launch timetable, partner banks or expected transaction volumes.
Why it matters
For merchants in Japan and Canada, it is another way to accept Asian wallets, QR codes and other alternative payment methods, which can matter when serving customers from Asia. For Hong Kong's payments industry, it shows a local firm continuing to export regional acquiring capabilities into more distant markets, with cross-border ecommerce acceptance still the focus of expansion.
What was announced
In a press release on 12 November, AsiaPay said it was expanding its operations into Japan and Canada, its 13th and 14th markets. The company described itself as a leading digital payment technology and service provider in Asia, and said the move would let merchants in Japan and Canada use its payment capabilities and regional payment network, with local market expertise. The release also pointed to asiapay.jp and asiapay.ca for more information.
"As digital commerce continues to transcend borders, merchants need integrated payment solutions that combine innovation, local expertise, scalability and regional connectivity," said Joseph Chan, chief executive of AsiaPay. "Our expansion into Japan and Canada enables us to better serve local merchants while connecting them with our extensive payment capabilities across Asia."
What the platform includes
AsiaPay said its all-in-one payment platform integrates ecommerce checkout plugins and platforms, card tokenisation, anti-fraud capabilities and alternative payment methods (APMs) across Asia, together with solutions such as Voice Pay, InsertPass and Refund Protect. Merchants can use a single platform to manage payments, optimise operations and standardise acceptance across markets.
The company said it was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Hong Kong. It provides payment services and technology to banks, corporations and ecommerce businesses, supporting international credit and debit cards, online banking, digital wallets, buy now, pay later (BNPL), QR code payments and alternative payment methods. It has 19 operational offices worldwide, and said it would continue to strengthen its presence connecting merchants, banks and businesses across Asia-Pacific.
Background
Several Hong Kong payment gateways serve cross-border ecommerce, helping merchants accept the wallets, QR codes and cards that are widely used in Asia. By describing Japan and Canada as its 13th and 14th markets, AsiaPay is moving into countries outside Asia that still have a clear link to Asian travel and online shopping. The announcement did not name local partner banks, a launch timetable or expected transaction volumes.
What to watch
- When acceptance in Japan and Canada will be fully available to merchants, and which payment methods will be supported first.
- Whether the company names local partner banks, acquirers or ecommerce platforms.
- Whether further new markets are added after Japan and Canada.
Sources
Questions
What is AsiaPay?
According to its press release, AsiaPay was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Hong Kong. It provides digital payment services and technology, supporting credit and debit cards, online banking, digital wallets, buy now, pay later, QR codes and alternative payment methods, and has 19 operational offices worldwide.
Where is it expanding?
The company announced operations in Japan and Canada, which it called its 13th and 14th markets. The release pointed to asiapay.jp and asiapay.ca, but did not list a specific launch date.
What do merchants in those markets get?
AsiaPay says they can use its all-in-one platform for ecommerce checkout plugins, card tokenisation, anti-fraud tools and alternative payment methods across Asia, including solutions such as Voice Pay, InsertPass and Refund Protect.
