ShopeePay, Alipay+ launch cross-border QR payments in Singapore

ShopeePay, a digital payment and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, announced its integration with Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway, starting with users in Singapore.

ShopeePay said this integration will let users in Singapore progressively scan over 150 million merchant QR codes in more than 100 markets and pay via ShopeePay without cash or currency exchange.

The cross-border QR payment feature is currently available in 28 countries and regions through Alipay+ and will be progressively rolled out to more markets and other regional ShopeePay users in the coming months.

ShopeePay users will gain access to the Alipay+ global ecosystem, including national payment systems like Malaysia’s DuitNow and South Korea’s ZeroPay, and local acquiring partners to pay at participating in-store merchants, with transparent exchange rates and cashback rewards.

🔗 Source: ShopeePay

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

ShopeePay joins a government-linked QR payments network

Through Alipay+, ShopeePay connects to more than a private merchant list.
It links into national QR payment systems like Malaysia’s DuitNow and South Korea’s ZeroPay, backed by governments and connected through efforts such as ASEAN’s Regional Payment Connectivity agenda 1.
The goal is quicker, lower-cost cross-border retail payments for SMEs and tourists, while cutting reliance on card networks for some purchases 2.
In 2024, Alipay+ handled over 80% of cross-border inbound QR payments through Malaysia’s DuitNow QR, which signals the scale ShopeePay reaches through Alipay+ 3.

The move raises the stakes in the super-app race across borders

ShopeePay can add cross-border payments without paying to build a global network from the ground up.
Competition with regional rivals such as Grab shifts toward which super-app offers smoother travel spending and cross-border shopping.
The partnership fits Sea Limited’s wider plan as investors watch for stronger monetization and new revenue beyond e-commerce 4.
With an existing network in place, ShopeePay can put more effort into user growth, while rivals may need similar partnerships or accept a weaker payments offering.