Ant International to Apply for Stablecoin Licenses in Hong Kong, Singapore & Luxembourg

Ant Group’s international arm, Ant International — primarily known for running Alipay — is preparing to file applications for regulated fiat‑pegged stablecoin issuance in several major financial centers. According to Reuters, the company plans to formally apply for a stablecoin issuer license in Hong Kong once the region’s new Stablecoins Ordinance takes effect on August 1, 2025.

The move follows growing clarity in stablecoin regulation. The Hong Kong legislation, approved in May, introduces a licensing regime for fiat-referenced tokens backed by reserves, enforced by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Ant International is also targeting similar licenses in Singapore and Luxembourg, as reported by Bloomberg.

By pursuing licenses across these jurisdictions, Ant aims to integrate stablecoins into its existing global payment and treasury services—leveraging its payments infrastructure to facilitate secure, regulated transactions across borders. The company handled nearly US$1 trillion in transactions in 2024 via its Whale blockchain-based payment platform, indicating scale and readiness for stablecoin use.

This strategy is in line with broader trends as fintech leaders react to regulatory headwinds and growing demand for crypto‑enabled finance. As mainstream stablecoin supply surpasses US$250 billion and aims toward a potential US$1 trillion milestone, Ant’s multi-jurisdictional push reflects a race to capitalize on the maturing crypto infrastructure.