WorldFirst
WorldFirst is a Singapore-registered cross-border payments platform (founded 2004) serving 1.5 million businesses across 210+ countries with multi-currency accounts, FX services, virtual cards, and 130+ marketplace integrations. It operates as a business pillar of Ant International following its 2019 acquisition by Ant Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WorldFirst does
WorldFirst is a cross-border payments and multi-currency business account provider, founded in 2004 in London, with its primary operating entity, WorldFirst (Singapore) Merchant Services Pte. Ltd., registered in Singapore. The platform serves 1.5 million businesses across 210+ countries and territories, offering multi-currency World Accounts with local bank details in 20+ receiving currencies, international payments in 100+ currencies, FX services (spot, forward contracts up to 24 months, and firm orders), a virtual World Card with zero FX fees in 15 currencies, direct integrations with 130+ global marketplaces (Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, Etsy, AliExpress, Shopee), and specialised supplier-payment rails into 1688.com leveraging direct banking connections in China and Hong Kong. WorldFirst claims to have processed over US$500 billion in cumulative transactions since inception.
Following its 2019 acquisition by Ant Group, WorldFirst now operates as one of four business pillars within Ant International alongside Alipay+, Antom, and Bettr. The enterprise tier, branded WorldFirst for Enterprise, exposes a next-generation API toolkit and an AI-native architecture targeted at platform integrators across e-commerce, digital entertainment, airlines, gig economy, HR/payroll, financial institutions, SaaS, and AI platforms. WorldFirst is authorised and regulated by the UK's FCA, licensed as a Major Payment Institution by Singapore's MAS, holds 60+ global regulatory licences (including a Class A MSB licence from Bank Negara Malaysia), and operates local teams in 20+ regions speaking 11+ languages.
Revenue is generated primarily through FX spreads on currency conversions (capped at up to 0.75% on major currencies under FCA regulation and 0.6% under MAS), international transfer fees, and card-transaction economics. The go-to-market blends self-serve digital onboarding (free account opening, no monthly fees, no minimum balance) with an enterprise sales overlay, supported by KOL marketing, a US$50-per-referral programme, banking channel partnerships (OCBC, DBS, Citi, BuytoGive, 2C2P) and trade-association deals (Export Council of Australia). Direct banking connections in China and Hong Kong and the breadth of marketplace integrations are the primary points of competitive differentiation versus Wise, Payoneer, Revolut Business, and Airwallex.
WorldFirst firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WorldFirst
- Legal name
- WorldFirst (Singapore) Merchant Services Pte. Ltd.
- Website
- https://worldfirst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- WorldFirst is a Singapore-registered cross-border payments platform (founded 2004) serving 1.5 million businesses across 210+ countries with multi-currency accounts, FX services, virtual cards, and 130+ marketplace integrations. It operates as a business pillar of Ant International following its 2019 acquisition by Ant Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WorldFirst industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cross-Border Payments
- NAICS
- Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International / Multi-Currency Wallets (FSAMAEAL), Cross-Border FX, Multi-Currency & Treasury for Payments (FSAGABAK), Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms (BPAMAFAK), Cross-border Payments & FX for E-commerce (CRAFALAF)
Keywords
Where WorldFirst is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
WorldFirst business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- FX Spread / Margin: WorldFirst earns revenue through foreign exchange spreads and margins when converting currencies. Competitive FX rates are offered with transparent margins capped at up to 0.75% on major currencies.
- International Transfer Fees: Fees charged for international payments and money transfers across 210+ countries/territories in 100+ currencies.
- Multi-currency Account Services: Free account opening with no monthly fees. Revenue derived from FX conversion margins and transfer fees rather than account maintenance charges.
- World Card Usage: Revenue from card transactions, including potential cashback programs on business spend such as ad spend, subscriptions, and product sourcing.
- Marketplace Payment Solutions: Facilitating collections from 130+ global marketplaces with integrated payout management, generating revenue through FX spreads and transaction fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-currency World Account with free opening, no monthly fees, and competitive FX rates. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Competitive FX rates under 0.75% for major currencies (FCA regulated). |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | World Card virtual cards at no cost with zero FX fees in 15 currencies. |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Referral bonus of US$50 for new sign-ups and US$50 per successful referral. |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | FCA authorised, competitive FX rates under 0.75%, fast seller onboarding. |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
WorldFirst product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WorldFirst provides multi-currency business accounts and cross-border payment services for businesses, enabling them to receive, hold, convert, and pay in multiple currencies across 210+ countries and territories. The platform offers local bank details in 20+ receiving currencies, payments in 100+ currencies, competitive FX rates with hedging tools, direct integration with 130+ global marketplaces, and virtual business expense cards. It also provides an enterprise-grade API toolkit with AI-native architecture for platform integrators.
Product overview
WorldFirst is a multi-currency business account and cross-border payments platform offering a unified solution for international business operations. The core product is the World Account, which provides multi-currency receiving (20+ currencies), global payments (100+ currencies to 210+ countries), and competitive FX rates. Key add-on modules include the World Card virtual Mastercard for business expenses with zero FX fees in 15 currencies, FX risk management tools (spot/forward contracts), and accounting software integration. The enterprise tier offers API access and AI-native architecture for platform integrators. The platform specializes in serving e-commerce sellers with direct integrations to 130+ marketplaces (Amazon, Shopify, TikTok Shop, Etsy, Shopee) and B2B supplier payments including specialized 1688.com sourcing for China. WorldFirst operates as a subsidiary of Ant International.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- World Account: Multi-currency business account enabling businesses to receive, hold, and pay in multiple currencies across 210+ countries.
- World Card
- WorldTrade
- 1688-World-Pay
Products and services
- World Account
- World Card
- FX / Foreign Exchange Services
- Receive Payments / Get Paid by Marketplaces
- Pay Business Partners
- Pay 1688 Suppliers
- WorldFirst Enterprise
Quantifiable outcome
- Processed over $500 billion in transactions for 1.5 million customers since 2004.
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use WorldFirst
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
WorldFirst technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability8 records
Feature8 records
WorldFirst partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- VietcombankcoreAnt International announced partnership with Vietcombank and NAPAS in Vietnam as part of expansion in Asia to expand cross-border payments and SME lending capabilities.
- NAPAScoreAnt International partnered with Vietcombank and NAPAS in Vietnam for cross-border payments and SME lending capabilities expansion in Asia.
- R2 (Mexico)minorAnt International announced partnership with Mexican fintech R2 as part of expansion in Latin America for cross-border payments and SME lending.
- Saudi Central BankcoreAnt International expanding through regulatory licensing across Asia, Latin America, and EMEA regions including collaboration with Saudi Central Bank.
- CitiflagshipAnt International collaborated with Citi to launch PayTo integration in Australia for WorldFirst's Global Account Service. Citi serves as the initiator sponsor bank providing regulated infrastructure, enabling real-time, low-cost cross-border payments for Australian SMEs with 24/7 fund top-ups and reduced reliance on card networks.
- BuytoGiveminorBuytoGive entered a partnership with WorldFirst where WorldFirst promotes BuytoGive to its network of approximately 20,000 UK marketplace sellers. BuytoGive is a UK e-commerce marketplace that redirects a portion of online retail spending to charitable donations.
- easypaisacoreeasypaisa announced a global remittance partnership with Ant International's WorldFirst platform, enabling its customers to receive cross-border payments from over 100 countries. easypaisa processed over 3.8 billion transactions worth more than PKR 15 trillion in 2025, marking its first anniversary as a digital bank.
- DBSflagshipDBS and Ant International signed MoU at Singapore Fintech Festival 2025 to expand collaboration in digital payments and fintech solutions. Partnership enables DBS PayLah!'s 3 million+ users to scan Alipay+ QR codes at 150M+ merchants across 100+ markets. Explores real-time remittances between DBS customers and 1.8B Alipay+ ecosystem accounts using ISO 20022 standards and SWIFT network. Includes SME digital transformation through Antom's agentic payment solutions and WorldFirst's cross-border payment services.
- Abdul Latif Jameel FinancecoreAbdul Latif Jameel Finance and Ant International signed MoU to explore fintech opportunities and collaborate on digital financial services in Saudi Arabia, supporting MSMEs through advanced cross-border payment and embedded finance solutions.
- OCBCcoreAnt International's WorldFirst partnered with OCBC to accelerate digital trade operations in Southeast Asia. The MoU formalized in October 2025 supports expansion in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, facilitating currency collection and payments for SMEs in the region.
- Export Council of Australia (ECA)coreExport Council of Australia and WorldFirst announced partnership to support Australian SMEs in navigating currency volatility (AUD fluctuated by 8% over four months), combining ECA's trade expertise with WorldFirst's cross-border payment solutions including multi-currency accounts, competitive FX rates, and educational resources on FX risk management.
- 2C2PcoreWorldFirst expanded its multi-currency payment services into Thailand through partnership with 2C2P to support SME cross-border transactions.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WorldFirst competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Revolut Business: Revolut Business offers multi-currency accounts, international transfers, FX, and corporate cards to SMBs and enterprises globally. It is explicitly named as a WorldFirst competitor with a similar horizontal SMB focus.
- Wise: Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the most direct competitor to WorldFirst, offering multi-currency business accounts, international payments, and competitive FX rates to consumers and SMBs globally. Both compete head-to-head in cross-border payments with transparent pricing models.
- OFX: OFX provides international money transfers, FX hedging (forward contracts), and multi-currency accounts to businesses and individuals. Its product set closely mirrors WorldFirst's FX and cross-border payment offerings, particularly for importers and exporters.
- Payoneer: Payoneer is a direct competitor serving cross-border payments and marketplace payouts for SMBs and freelancers globally. Both platforms integrate with 100+ marketplaces and target e-commerce sellers receiving international payouts.
- Airwallex: Airwallex offers multi-currency business accounts, international payments, FX, and corporate cards targeting SMBs and enterprises globally. It is named alongside Wise and WorldFirst as a top competitor in cross-border payments for e-commerce sellers.
Emerging players
- Verto: Verto provides cross-border B2B payments, multi-currency accounts, and FX services to businesses globally, with strong emerging-market presence in Africa and Asia. It competes with WorldFirst in B2B cross-border payment flows.
- Remitly: Remitly focuses on consumer remittances and cross-border money transfers, with growing SMB services. While primarily consumer-focused, it overlaps with WorldFirst in emerging-market corridors, particularly through partnerships similar to easypaisa.
- dLocal: dLocal focuses on cross-border payments in emerging markets, helping global merchants collect and pay in local payment methods across 40+ countries. It overlaps with WorldFirst in emerging-market cross-border payment infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- PayPal: PayPal is a broad incumbent in digital payments offering multi-currency accounts, international transfers, and marketplace integrations (PayPal Checkout). While not exclusively focused on B2B cross-border, it competes in the same e-commerce seller space and is cited in WorldFirst comparisons (3% FX markups vs WorldFirst 1.5%).
- Western Union Business Solutions: Western Union Business Solutions provides international payments and FX risk management for SMBs and mid-market businesses. As an incumbent cross-border payments provider, it competes with WorldFirst on FX spreads and international wire transfer services for importers/exporters.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WorldFirst social profiles
Digital presenceWorldFirst compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
WorldFirst financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WorldFirst leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
WorldFirst funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WorldFirst M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WorldFirst
What does WorldFirst do?
WorldFirst provides multi-currency business accounts and cross-border payment services for businesses, enabling them to receive, hold, convert, and pay in multiple currencies across 210+ countries and territories. The platform offers local bank details in 20+ receiving currencies, payments in 100+ currencies, competitive FX rates with hedging tools, direct integration with 130+ global marketplaces, and virtual business expense cards. It also provides an enterprise-grade API toolkit with AI-native architecture for platform integrators.
Is WorldFirst a public or private company?
WorldFirst is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was WorldFirst founded?
WorldFirst was founded in 2004. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is WorldFirst based?
WorldFirst is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does WorldFirst make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. FX Spread / Margin is the primary driver. The others are international Transfer Fees, multi-currency Account Services, world Card Usage and marketplace Payment Solutions.
Who are WorldFirst's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Revolut Business, Wise, OFX, Payoneer and Airwallex. Emerging players are Verto, Remitly and dLocal. Broad incumbents are PayPal and Western Union Business Solutions.
Does WorldFirst have an API?
Yes. WorldFirst offers an enterprise API toolkit and AI-native architecture for partner integration. API references are available at developers.worldfirst.com.cn/docs/alipay-worldfirst/worldfirst_enterprise_solution/overview. The API is described as enabling partners and enterprise clients to integrate WorldFirst's cross-border payment and FX capabilities into their own platforms. Developer documentation is at developers.worldfirst.com.cn/docs/alipay-worldfirst/worldfirst_enterprise_solution/overview.
What industry is WorldFirst in?
WorldFirst's product category is Cross-Border Payments. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAIAG, Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services, with a secondary code of FSAMAEAL, International / Multi-Currency Wallets. Its NAICS code is 52232 and its SIC code is 6159.