Ant International Expands AI Payments to 1.5 Billion Asian Users
The Agentic Mobile Protocol, launched in April 2026, integrates AI agents with 10 digital wallets and seven payment acquirers, including Alipay and GCash, across Asia.
Ant International Rolls Out AI Payment Protocol
Ant International is expanding its Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) across Asia, enabling artificial intelligence (AI) agents to process authorised payments. This technology works through digital wallets, super apps, and smart devices.
The initial phase includes 10 prominent digital wallets, among them Alipay, GCash, TNG eWallet, AlipayHK, DANA, KakaoPay, MPay, TrueMoney, Toss, and Singapore-based Starryblu. These participating wallets collectively serve approximately 1.5 billion user accounts across the region.
New Acquirers and Streamlined Transactions
Seven payment acquiring partners have joined the AMP initiative, including Adyen, Allinpay, Checkout.com, Fiserv, Global Payments, Nuvei, and Worldline. Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer at Ant International, stated that AMP allows AI agents to function as trusted actors within existing mobile payment systems.
The protocol, introduced in April 2026, aims to simplify transactions by removing the need for users to switch between different applications.
Enhanced Security and Interoperability Efforts
AMP allows users to grant specific payment permissions to AI agents, rather than full account access, with digital identities and trust ratings defining each agent's capabilities. Ant International claims this protocol can halve the steps required to link an AI agent to a digital wallet.
It also incorporates safeguards for merchants against certain risks associated with agent-led transactions. For broader adoption, Ant International is collaborating with Mastercard and Visa on a "Know Your Agent" interoperability framework, aiming to establish shared principles for identifying and onboarding AI agents across various payment networks.
The expansion of AMP could accelerate the integration of AI into Asia's digital payment ecosystem, potentially altering how consumers and businesses conduct transactions. The collaboration with Mastercard, Visa, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) BuildFin.ai platform suggests a move towards standardised agent verification and risk management across the region.
This initiative may reduce operational complexities for payment providers and financial institutions, potentially lowering transaction costs and improving efficiency. The availability of AMP's source code on GitHub also encourages wider developer participation, which could drive further innovation in AI-driven payment solutions for Asian markets.
This article is journalism, not investment advice; consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions. Market data is indicative, may be delayed, and should be verified with your broker or exchange before use.
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