Alternative to Banks: 5 Mobile Wallets for Developing Countries
Mobile wallets help to convert cash into digital money without depending on banks
China
Which Countries Run National Digital Currencies?
… and why they have nothing to do with crypto
Saudi Arabia Ends mBridge Participation After Completing CBDC Payment Trial
Saudi Arabia has ended its participation in mBridge, a China-led cross-border payments project using central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), after completing a proof of concept in May 2025.
US to Share AI Leadership With China, Say 56% of Investors: Robocap
The era of undisputed US dominance in artificial intelligence may be numbered. At least according to the people who decide where billions of investment dollars go next.
China’s Digital Yuan Bank Network Triples to 30 Institutions
China’s digital yuan e-CNY network expansion tripled in less than a year showing how quickly central-bank digital currencies (CBDCs) can scale.
Alipay Launches China’s First Full-Stack Agentic Commerce Platform For Merchants
Alipay introduced China’s first full-stack agentic commerce platform on August 17, 2026, at its AI Ecosystem Partner Conference in Hangzhou. The platform is designed to help merchants move from standard digital operations to AI-powered operations.
Tencent Expands Cross-Border Remittance Access for Foreign Users Sending Money into China
Tencent has introduced a new cross-border remittance service that allows foreign passport holders to send money into China, expanding the reach of its financial technology ecosystem beyond domestic users.
Nvidia Hits $5.5 Trillion Valuation With Zero Revenue From Its Former Biggest Growth Market: Could Huang Trip to China Accelerate Its Dominance?
The AI arms race just crowned its first $5.5 trillion company – Nvidia has officially outpaced Google and Apple setting the unprecedented valuation record. At the same time, the world’s most valuable chipmaker is still locked out of the market that could make that number look small. China that used to be one of Nvidia’s […]
Alipay Expands Agentic AI Payment Suite With Business-Facing Transaction Processing Product to Help 16M OPCs Thrive in the Agentic Economy
AI payment processing product from Alipay is part of the firm’s AI Pay offering. It enables businesses of all sizes, including One Person Companies (OPCs) that account for 30% of all enterprises in the Chinese mainland, to receive agentic payments seamlessly when autonomous AI agents, including OpenClaw-type agents, purchase their services or products.
Banma Intelligence and Alipay Bring Voice-Activated Payments to Car Cockpits, Targeting 69 OEM Partners
Chinese automotive OS company Banma Intelligence and Alipay have jointly launched an in-car payments system that lets drivers buy tickets, book hotels, and order food using voice commands without needing their smartphones.
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Dominate in Wearables Market
In 2025, Ray-Ban Meta became the best-selling smart glasses globally. The first quarter of 2026 continues the Meta glasses hype, with new models revealed, and international expansion on hold due to “unprecedented demand” and limited inventory.
The Chinese Yuan’s Growing Role in the Global Oil Crisis: What You Need to Know
As the US-Iran conflict disrupts oil markets and threatens petrodollar dominance, both India and the UAE are turning to the Chinese yuan for oil payments — a shift with major implications for the global financial order.
China’s Lending Benchmark Stability Prompts Asian Markets Growth
Trading in leading Asia markets accelerated following the PBoC’s Monday decision to keep the benchmark loan rates unchanged for the 11th consecutive month.
Governments Are Betting Big on AI and Britain Just Joined the Race With £500 Million Sovereign Fund
From London to Riyadh, states are no longer leaving artificial intelligence entirely to the private sector. Sovereign funds focused on AI infrastructure are becoming the new black and UK is now on trend.
Payment News Digest: Infrastructure, Control & Scale in Focus
The global payments landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with new launches and updates from Xero, Checkout.com, Paysend and more highlighting a clear shift toward merchant empowerment, regional sovereignty, and cross-border infrastructure upgrades.
Chinese Consumers Can Now Use the Qwen App to Hail Rides and Pay with Alipay AI Pay
China’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem is entering a new phase of “agentic commerce,” where artificial intelligence doesn’t just recommend actions but completes them. A key example is the integration of Alibaba’s AI assistant, the Qwen App, with the country’s dominant payments platform, Alipay, enabling users to book services like rides and pay seamlessly within a single […]
