Airwallex gains regulatory nod for full commercial launch in Malaysia

Global payments and financial platform Airwallex has secured key regulatory approvals to fully launch its commercial offering in Malaysia, marking a significant step in its regional expansion.

The company announced it has obtained both eMoney issuing and Class A licences from Bank Negara Malaysia, enabling it to roll out a complete suite of payment and financial services in the country.

With these approvals, Airwallex is now able to operate as a fully regulated, full-stack financial platform in Malaysia, offering services that extend beyond payments to include multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange capabilities, and support for more complex business use cases within a single ecosystem.

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According to Arnold Chan, general manager, Asia-Pacific at Airwallex, Malaysia represents a key market for the company’s growth ambitions in the region. “Malaysia is a strategic market for Airwallex, and these approvals enable us to bring our full financial infrastructure to businesses on the ground,” he said. “We’re excited to support local businesses in scaling internationally, and to play a role in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a hub for regional and global growth.”

The latest approvals build on Airwallex’s existing Class B Money Services Business licence and its status as a registered merchant acquirer, signalling increased regulatory confidence and enabling a shift from selective product offerings to a comprehensive, end-to-end platform.

As one of the few non-bank players in Malaysia with this level of regulatory coverage, the company said it is positioned to support businesses looking to operate across borders more efficiently, from managing multi-currency collections to enabling global payouts at scale.

Alongside its regulatory progress, Airwallex has been investing in its local operations. The company grew its Malaysia team by 66% in 2025 and recently moved into a larger office with capacity for over 160 employees. It also plans to double its headcount in the country throughout 2026.

This expansion comes as Airwallex processed more than RM2 billion in remittance transaction volume in Malaysia in 2025, driven by increasing demand from businesses with cross-border operations.

Malaysia remains a key market in Southeast Asia’s digital economy, which is projected to contribute 30% of the country’s GDP by 2030. As eCommerce adoption accelerates and businesses increasingly expand beyond domestic markets, demand for seamless, multi-currency financial infrastructure continues to grow. Against this backdrop, Airwallex’s full commercial launch positions it to tap into the needs of Malaysian businesses navigating an increasingly global and digital-first economy.

Back in 2025, Airwallex deepened its APAC push with an Indonesian payments acquisition, securing majority ownership of Skye Sab Indonesia, positioning the company to capture rising cross-border payment demand in one of the region’s most dynamic economies.

The acquisition gives the global financial platform a PJP Category 1 licence in Indonesia, allowing Airwallex to directly serve local merchants and international businesses entering the Indonesian market. For brands and SMEs aiming to scale globally, the integration offers access to Airwallex’s international financial infrastructure and a clear route to manage overseas expansion more efficiently.

Recently, Airwallex also appointed Alin Dobrea as its marketing director for Southeast Asia, where he will lead the company’s regional marketing strategy and execution across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and all other SEA countries.

Reporting to Andrew Balint, regional vice president of marketing for APAC, Dobrea will oversee initiatives aimed at helping businesses across Asia modernise their fintech infrastructure, spanning cross-border payments, embedded finance, global treasury, and expansion.

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