WorldFirst, the cross-border payments arm of Ant International, has received a Class A Money Services Business license from Bank Negara Malaysia, allowing it to offer international payment and foreign currency receipt services in the country.
The approval supports its efforts to serve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in cross-border trade.
The license adds to WorldFirst’s portfolio of over 60 approvals across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.
Its platform integrates payments, FX conversion, and treasury services for global businesses.
WorldFirst’s core product, the World Account, allows businesses to collect payments from over 130 marketplaces, including Amazon and Walmart, and manage global treasury operations from a single platform.
It also supports buyers with international payment tools. The company has established local operations to provide on-the-ground support to Malaysian SMEs.
WorldFirst serves over 1.2 million SMEs globally and recently launched the World Card with Mastercard in selected markets to help businesses manage international spending.
The Malaysia expansion is part of Ant International’s broader strategy in the country, including a Digital Business Centre focused on developing local tech talent for global innovation.
“The license marks a significant milestone in WorldFirst’s commitment to Southeast Asia.
More importantly, it enables us to better serve Southeast Asian SMEs with secure, compliant cross-border financial services while contributing to the region’s digital ecosystem,”
said Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant International and CEO of WorldFirst.
Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Malaysia, based on image by sodawhiskey via Freepik
