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Mobile payments

Mobile payments
Cash is history. Whether its ordering groceries from our smartphone or using it to pay for the bus, these companies and services are changing the way we pay for goods and services.
Peng Yang (left), CEO of Ant International, with Clara Wu Tsai, governor of New York Liberty. Photo: Handout
Ant Group

Alipay+ announces sponsorship deal with WNBA team New York Liberty

The sponsorship follows the designation earlier this month of Liberty player Sabrina Ionescu as Ant International’s global brand ambassador.

Ant Group

Ant International signs WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu as brand ambassador

Artificial intelligence

Big Tech firms bet big on AI glasses, as Ant offers iris authentication

Ant Group

Ant Digital warns of fake tokens as crypto scams persist in Hong Kong

The Ant Group affiliate says it has not issued any token on any blockchain.

Ant Digital Technologies, which provides blockchain-based services, is the technology arm of Ant Group. Photo: Reuters
Blockchain

Crypto cooperation between Hong Kong, mainland China to benefit sector: experts

The mainland already leads in fintech growth, while Hong Kong is at the forefront of crypto regulation.

Smartwatches

Meet Little Genius, the smartwatch brand ruling China’s playgrounds

With their precise location-tracking features and kid-friendly ecosystem, Little Genius devices have captured a niche market.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong travellers demand refunds after Octopus service glitches in Japan

New service faces backlash as users report frequent system malfunctions, payment failures and double charges.

Hong Kong travellers using the Octopus app’s new cross-border payment PayPay service in Japan have reported frequent system problems. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong economy

Explainer | How Hongkongers can use Octopus for payments in Japan and what the perks are

The Post unpacks the steps required to make payments through Octopus, along with benefits and limitations.

Stablecoins

Trump-led venture lauds USD1 stablecoin’s potential for ‘dollarising the world’

At the Token2049 event in Singapore, World Liberty Financial says it will launch a debit card in the fourth quarter or early in 2026.

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Ant Group

Alipay, Weixin Pay embrace China’s new cross-border payment system

The official system aims to improve payment convenience for foreign visitors using their countries’ bank cards or e-wallets.

An Alipay QR code (left) and a Weixin Pay QR code displayed at a shop in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Ant Group

Ant Group-backed Hello unveils robotaxi to challenge Baidu in China

The firm plans to deploy 10,000 self-driving taxis in more than 10 cities next year, and expand to 50,000 vehicles globally by 2027.

Shanghai-based Hello has launched a robotaxi. Photo: Handout

Video | Why Hong Kong is slow to adopt digital payments

Hong Kong’s adoption of digital payments has lagged behind many other cities, with most local businesses still preferring cash, the Octopus contactless system or credit cards.

Hong Kong transport

Taxi drivers encouraged to embrace e-payments with Hong Kong start-up Dash system

Drivers offered zero-commission integrated system as pressure builds to adopt digital payments as part of new government regulations.

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Apple

Apple eyes Douyin Pay for China App Store while speculation swirls on new iPhone

The potential addition of Douyin Pay to Apple’s China App Store reflects the continued growth of mobile payment services in the country.

Apple’s China App Store currently offers mobile payment services from Alipay, WeChat Pay and China UnionPay. Photo: Shutterstock
IPO

SoftBank selects banks for US IPO of payments app amid tech rebound

US IPO activity has gained momentum in a long-awaited rebound, supported by strong tech earnings and signs of progress in trade talks.

A SoftBank shop in Tokyo. Photo: AP
Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Payment Connect can boost Hong Kong as a hub for international finance

Programme is the latest step in more than a decade of work to open mainland China’s vast financial sector to the rest of the world.

Banking & finance

Hongkongers, mainland residents embrace Payment Connect service on first day

New service operates smoothly as thousands take advantage of link between Hong Kong’s FPS and the mainland’s IBPS.

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Ant Group

Ant Group pushes wider adoption of AI-enabled smart glasses for mobile payments

The first such payment outside mainland China was recently completed in Hong Kong, using the AlipayHK app and Meizu’s StarV smart glasses.

With mobile payments functionality, AI-powered smart glasses are expected to see increased adoption worldwide. Photo: Handout
Ant Group

Ant International issues first sustainability report after spin-off

Speculation has been rife over a potential listing by the company, which was spun off from Ant Group last year as part of a restructuring.

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Blockchain

With early stablecoin law, Hong Kong looks to keep edge as finance hub

Hong Kong is looking to ‘secure a leading role in global payment systems’, one analyst says, as law comes ahead of a similar US stablecoin bill.

Blockchain

OKX sees tipping point for blockchain tech amid rising crypto sentiment

OKX chief commercial officer Lennix Lai says the exchange is focused on building compliant services in the US and Singapore, among other markets.

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OKX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, moved its headquarters to the US this year. Photo: Shutterstock
Alibaba

Alibaba’s Amap offers ride-hailing function catering to China’s foreign visitors

Amap’s ride-hailing feature, available on the platform’s English version, reflects support for China’s visa-free travel scheme.

Amap’s ride-hailing feature will initially accept users’ registered mainland, Hong Kong and Macau phone numbers. Photo: Shutterstock
Ant Group

Ant Group’s global unit pulls in US$3 billion in revenue ahead of spin-off

Ant International could fetch an IPO valuation of between US$8 billion to US$24 billion if it lists in Hong Kong, analysts say.

Crime in Hong Kong

Mainland bank in Hong Kong investigates unauthorised transactions on FPS platform

China Construction Bank (Asia) client says she lost HK$20,000 through FPS transfers, with experts suggesting hacking may be involved.

Fintech

Alipay and WeChat Pay see booming inbound spending in China for Labour Day

Preliminary data from the country’s two dominant mobile payment apps show two-to-three times the spending from a year ago, much of it from Hong Kong.

QR codes for WeChat Pay (left) and Alipay seen at a grocery store in Beijing on September 19, 2020. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Geely-owned DreamSmart to push mobile payments via AI smart glasses

DreamSmart is working with Ant International to enable mobile payments for users of its StarV Air2 eyewear.

DreamSmart Group’s AI-powered StarV Air2 eyewear will offer mobile payments functionality from the third quarter this year. Photo: SCMP
Ant Group

Alipay leads China’s payments market as tap-and-pay reaches 100 million users

Alipay, launched 20 years ago by Alibaba Group, has proved to be a revolutionary product that changed the way Chinese people make payments.

Tencent

WeChat helps Chinese tourists book tables at 870,000 dining spots across Japan

The Chinese-language version of Tabelog, a popular Japanese restaurant review website, is now available as a mini program on WeChat.

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