Partnership · Financial Services

India in talks to link Alipay+ with UPI

By Startup Enthusiast · 2 February 2026

What they do

Ant International is a Singapore-based fintech spun off from Ant Group in 2024, focusing on cross-border payments

The Indian government and RBI are discussing linking Alipay+ with UPI, according to a Reuters report

Alipay+ serves 1.8 billion users and 150 million merchants, while UPI hit a record 21.7 billion transactions in January

The Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are in talks with Ant International to link Alipay+ with UPI, according to a Reuters report.
Alipay+ is Ant International's cross-border payment offering, a unified wallet service connecting merchants and users globally.
The talks aim to enable Indian travellers to use UPI for payments abroad through Alipay+.
This follows a previous partnership where NPCI tied up with HitPay for UPI payments in Singapore.
In 2023, UPI partnered with Singapore's PayNow for cross-border transactions.
The discussions are at an early stage, and no formal agreement has been announced.
UPI recorded 21.7 billion transactions in January, a fresh all-time high.
The government allocated INR 2,000 crore for RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions for 2026-27.

This partnership would expand UPI's international reach, building on existing links with Singapore's PayNow.
Alipay+'s large user base of 1.8 billion could provide a significant boost to UPI's cross-border usage.
The move aligns with India's push to promote digital payments globally, as seen in the INR 2,000 crore allocation for RuPay and BHIM-UPI.
It could simplify payments for Indian travellers and tourists, enhancing convenience.

Ant International is a Singapore-headquartered fintech, spun off from Ant Group in 2024.
The company focuses on cross-border payment technology, digital commerce, and financial services.
Alipay+ is its unified wallet service, connecting merchants and users across borders.
Alipay+ serves 1.8 billion users and over 150 million merchants globally.
The company operates in multiple countries, enabling seamless payments for international transactions.

The talks are ongoing, and a formal agreement has not been reached yet.
If successful, the linkage could be implemented in phases, starting with specific regions.
Further details on the timeline and technical integration are expected in future announcements.