Ant International receives Bank Negara Malaysia Class A Money Services Business licence for WorldFirst to operate cross-border payment services.
Ant International has just hit a major milestone in Southeast Asia receiving approval from Bank Negara Malaysia to operate under a Class A Money Services Business licence.
It means WorldFirst Ant’s all-in-one platform for digital cross-border payments and treasury services now has the green light to operate in Malaysia. This adds Malaysia to the 60+ countries where WorldFirst is already licensed, marking another big step in expanding its global reach.
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Why This Matters for Malaysian Businesses
This isn’t just a new license it’s a step toward empowering Malaysian SMEs with faster, simpler, and more cost-effective ways to manage their international transactions. WorldFirst can now offer tailored financial services to businesses looking to expand globally or streamline cross-border trade.
From receiving foreign currency payments to accessing competitive FX rates and faster settlements, Malaysian merchants will gain access to tools they’ve been asking for tools that give them the same advantages as larger corporations.
Backed by Insights and Regional Demand
A recent report by Deloitte and WorldFirst, Going-Global: Seizing the Next Great Opportunity in Digital Trade, highlights Malaysia as a rising star in the digital trade space full of potential and primed for growth.. With e-commerce GMV expected to reach $16 billion by 2025 and $25 billion by 2030, there’s never been a better time for digital financial services to meet rising demand.
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WorldFirst’s insights show that Malaysian businesses are ahead of many peers in the region when it comes to seeking multi-currency solutions, diverse payment options, and smart treasury tools. These aren’t just nice-to-haves they’re must-haves in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
The Power of the World Account
At the heart of this expansion is the World Account a powerful tool that combines payments, collections, FX conversion, and treasury management into one seamless account. Sellers can collect payments from 130+ marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart, while buyers can pay international vendors with ease.
It’s a game-changer for SMEs that want to scale globally without juggling multiple platforms or banks.
Local Support, Global Reach
WorldFirst is also planting deeper roots in Malaysia by building local operations to offer dedicated SME support. This ties into Ant International’s broader strategy, including its Digital Business Centre, which taps into local tech talent to build global solutions.
Clara Shi, Vice President of Ant International and CEO of WorldFirst, put it best:
“The licence 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.”
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What’s Next?
In 2025, expect to see WorldFirst roll out more tools like the World Card with Mastercard, already making waves in other markets. It’s designed to offer SMEs the spending control, security, and international flexibility they need to operate on a global stage.
With over 1.2 million SMEs served globally, WorldFirst is clearly doubling down on its mission: to make international business more accessible, efficient, and secure especially for smaller players.
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