Ant International Deploys Privacy Enhancing Technologies in Alipay+ to Strengthen Global Wallet Data Privacy and Cross-Border Payment Security

SINGAPORE — April 22, 2026

Executive Summary

Ant International has completed a comprehensive upgrade of its global wallet gateway solution, Alipay+, enabling full deployment of privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) across all critical operations. The upgrade extends privacy-preserving capabilities to a network covering 150 million merchants and 1.8 billion consumer accounts, positioning Alipay+ as the first digital payment solution to fully implement PETs in a live production environment.

The implementation ensures that all data processed within the Alipay+ network is encrypted prior to processing and remains unidentifiable throughout the transaction lifecycle, strengthening data privacy protections for cross-border payments. The initiative also includes collaboration with regulatory and academic institutions, reinforcing alignment with data protection standards and advancing research in trust technologies.

Announcement Overview

Ant International has introduced a major enhancement to Alipay+ by integrating privacy enhancing technologies across its entire operational framework, transforming how data is processed, secured, and utilized within the platform. This upgrade represents a significant development in the application of privacy-preserving computation techniques in live financial systems, particularly within cross-border payment environments.

The deployment ensures that sensitive financial data remains encrypted and inaccessible during processing, reducing exposure risks while maintaining operational performance and user experience. The initiative supports Ant International’s broader objective of delivering secure, compliant, and scalable digital payment infrastructure across multiple markets and jurisdictions.

The upgrade also aligns with ongoing collaborations with regulatory bodies and research institutions, supporting the development of frameworks that ensure data protection, transparency, and trust in the adoption of emerging technologies.

Key Announcement Details

Platform Upgrade and PETs Deployment Scope

• Announcement Type: Deployment of privacy enhancing technologies across a global digital payment ecosystem
• Announcing Company: Ant International
• Announcement Date: April 22, 2026
• Platform: Alipay+ global wallet gateway solution
• Upgrade Completion: Full PETs coverage achieved across all critical operations
• Deployment Environment: Fully operational live production environment
• Industry Milestone: First digital payment solution to fully deploy PETs in a live setting
• Operational Coverage: All core payment processing functions now PETs-enabled
• Deployment Objective: Strengthen privacy and security across cross-border digital payment flows

Ecosystem Scale and Global Network

• Merchant Coverage: 150 million merchants connected within the Alipay+ ecosystem
• Consumer Accounts: 1.8 billion e-wallet user accounts supported globally
• Ecosystem Type: Global wallet partnership network enabling interoperability
• Transaction Scope: Cross-border digital payment transactions across multiple regions
• User Impact: Enhanced privacy assurance across all participating wallets and services

Core Technology and PETs Capabilities

• Technology Implemented: Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs)
• Technology Definition: Digital tools and techniques that enable secure data processing and analysis
• Primary Capability: Processing data without exposing sensitive or identifiable information
• Encryption Model: All data encrypted before processing begins
• Processing Integrity: Data remains encrypted during processing operations
• Data Visibility Restriction: Data remains unidentifiable to Ant International throughout the lifecycle
• Security Approach: Privacy-preserving computation applied across all operations

Data Handling, Encryption, and Protection Mechanisms

• Data Processing Method: Encrypted data processing across all transactions
• Data Exposure Prevention: No identifiable data accessible during any processing stage
• Transmission Protocol: Only encrypted data transmitted to Alipay+ for processing
• Data Sensitivity Handling: Commercially sensitive information remains protected at all times
• Privacy Assurance Model: End-to-end encryption throughout payment lifecycle
• Compliance Alignment: Supports data protection requirements across jurisdictions
• Data Sovereignty Consideration: Designed to address evolving cross-border data regulations

Benefits Delivered to Ecosystem Partners

• Regulatory Compliance: Enables proactive compliance with data privacy regulations
• Service Continuity: Maintains uninterrupted cross-border transaction services
• User Experience: No degradation to user experience or operational workflows
• Privacy Assurance: Increased confidence in data protection for end-users
• Risk Mitigation: Reduced risk associated with transmission of sensitive information
• Operational Stability: Maintains existing system performance while enhancing security

Partner Onboarding and Ecosystem Expansion

• Partner Participation: Alipay+ e-wallet partners invited to adopt PETs
• Integration Scope: PETs integration into partner operational environments
• Ecosystem Extension: Privacy enhancements extended across the full payments chain
• Collaboration Framework: Joint onboarding and deployment with Ant International
• Adoption Strategy: Gradual integration across partner networks

Open Source and Technology Transparency

• Codebase Strategy: PETs codebase to be open sourced in phases
• Transparency Objective: Provide full visibility into implementation
• Control for Partners: Enables partners to maintain control over deployments
• Adoption Facilitation: Supports broader ecosystem participation
• Implementation Flexibility: Allows customization and adaptation by partners

Regulatory Engagement and Proof-of-Concept Validation

• Regulatory Authority: Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), Singapore
• Engagement Type: Evaluation of PETs-enabled AI prediction model training
• Proof-of-Concept Objective: Demonstrate collaborative AI model training without data sharing
• Collaboration Model: Joint model training based on shared customer relationships
• Data Sharing Approach: No transfer of original customer data between parties
• Outcome: Successful validation of privacy-preserving collaboration

PDPC Practical Guidance and Compliance Framework

• Guidance Issued: Practical Guidance on classification and handling of data
• Regulatory Context: Based on Singapore’s current data privacy regulations
• Technical Assessment: Included evaluation of multi-party computation implementation
• Key Finding: Secret shares alone do not constitute personal data for receiving entities
• Implementation Requirement: Organizations must ensure robustness and reliability
• Data Protection Obligation: Must provide reasonable assurance of data protection
• Framework Outcome: Provides clarity and assurance for deployment of PETs

AI Prediction Models and Collaborative Data Use

• AI Capability: PETs-enabled AI prediction model training and utilisation
• Model Purpose: Improve efficiency of customer engagement programmes
• Data Input Structure: Based on common customers between collaborating parties
• Privacy Mechanism: Data remains encrypted during model training
• Operational Benefit: Enables insights without compromising data privacy
• Technology Combination: Integration of AI prediction models with PETs

Public Sector Collaboration and Sandbox Participation

• Government Initiative: IMDA PET Sandbox
• Participation Role: Active contributor and participant
• Sandbox Objective: Facilitate experimentation and piloting of PETs use cases
• Support Environment: Collaboration with trusted solution providers
• Deployment Result: PETs successfully deployed in Alipay+ through sandbox participation
• Industry Impact: Demonstrates real-world applicability of PETs

Official Statement from IMDA and PDPC Leadership

• Speaker: Denise Wong, Assistant Chief Executive of Data Innovation and Protection, IMDA and Commissioner of PDPC
• Recognition Statement: Deployment seen as a significant milestone in digital payments
• Trust Emphasis: Highlights commitment to prioritising trust for partners and customers
• Technology Value: PETs unlock data opportunities while protecting sensitive information
• Industry Encouragement: Companies encouraged to join PET Sandbox initiatives

Academic Collaboration and Research Partnership

• Academic Partner: Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore)
• Agreement Type: Master Research Collaboration Agreement
• Research Focus: Trust technologies and secure digital infrastructure
• Collaboration Scope: Joint development of solutions for digital payments security
• First-Year Outcome: Completion of research initiative on Trusted AI and infrastructure

Ongoing Research and Future Development

• Current Research Focus: Use and deployment of PETs
• Target Application: Cross-border payments within Alipay+
• Research Objective: Address real-world business challenges
• Innovation Direction: Strengthening trust through applied research
• Technology Evolution: Continued development of privacy-enhancing capabilities

Strategic Technology Objectives and Trust Framework

• Primary Objective: Strengthen trust in global digital payment systems
• Operational Goal: Ensure privacy throughout entire payment lifecycle
• Technology Role: Enable secure and efficient digital services
• Trust Mechanism: Data remains private even from the platform operator
• Deployment Principles: Transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in technology adoption

Leadership Statement and Strategic Messaging

• Executive: Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer, Ant International
• Core Statement: Trust is integral to delivering secure digital services globally
• Upgrade Impact: Strengthens trust for both partners and customers
• Privacy Assurance: Data remains private throughout the entire lifecycle
• System Capability: Privacy maintained even from Ant International

Corporate Overview of Ant International

• Company Identity: Global digital payment, digitisation, and fintech solutions provider
• Platform Type: Unified techfin platform
• Client Base: Financial institutions and merchants of all sizes
• Operational Model: Collaboration across private and public sectors
• Growth Objective: Enable inclusive growth through digital solutions
• Service Portfolio: Digital payment and financial services solutions

Strengthening Data Privacy for Cross-Border Digital Payments

Comprehensive Deployment of Privacy Enhancing Technologies

The implementation of PETs across Alipay+ introduces a privacy-first architecture that ensures sensitive data is handled securely at every stage of the payment process. PETs consist of digital tools and cryptographic techniques that allow organizations to process and analyze data while preserving confidentiality.

Within the Alipay+ ecosystem:

• All data is encrypted before processing
• Data remains unidentifiable to Ant International throughout processing
• Sensitive information is not exposed during transactions

This approach ensures that data privacy is maintained without compromising operational efficiency or system performance, supporting the demands of large-scale digital payment networks.

Operational Benefits for Partners and Ecosystem Participants

The deployment of PETs provides multiple advantages for Alipay+ partners, including:

• Proactive compliance with evolving data privacy regulations, ensuring continuity of cross-border transaction services amid changing data sovereignty requirements
• Enhanced data privacy assurance for end-users, maintaining trust without altering existing user experience or operational workflows
• Reduced risk associated with the transmission of sensitive information, as only encrypted data is transferred and processed within the system

These benefits collectively strengthen the resilience and reliability of the Alipay+ network while supporting its global expansion.

Privacy Architecture and Data Protection Framework

End-to-End Encryption and Data Processing Integrity

A central component of the PETs deployment is the implementation of end-to-end encryption mechanisms, ensuring that data remains protected throughout the payment lifecycle. This includes:

• Encryption prior to data processing
• Continuous protection during transaction execution
• Prevention of data exposure to internal systems

The architecture ensures that even Ant International does not have access to identifiable customer data during processing, reinforcing privacy assurances for both partners and end-users.

Alignment With Data Sovereignty and Regulatory Requirements

The use of PETs enables Ant International to address data sovereignty challenges associated with cross-border payments. By ensuring that sensitive data is not exposed or transferred in identifiable form, the platform supports compliance with jurisdiction-specific data protection regulations.

This approach allows partners to maintain uninterrupted cross-border transaction services, even as regulatory environments evolve.

Extending PETs Across the Payments Ecosystem

Partner Onboarding and Ecosystem Integration

Ant International has invited Alipay+ e-wallet partners to integrate PETs into their own operations, extending the benefits of privacy-enhancing technologies across the broader payments value chain.

Key elements of this initiative include:

• Collaborative onboarding processes for partners
• Integration support for PETs-enabled operations
• Alignment of data protection practices across participants

Open-Source Strategy for Transparency and Adoption

The company has also announced plans to open-source the PETs codebase in phases, providing partners with:

• Full visibility into the technology
• Greater control over implementation
• Opportunities for customization and innovation

This phased approach ensures that ecosystem participants can adopt PETs in a structured and transparent manner.

Regulatory Collaboration and Practical Guidance Development

Engagement With Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission

Ant International has worked closely with the Personal Data Protection Commission to evaluate a proof-of-concept for PETs-enabled AI prediction model training and utilization.

The proof-of-concept demonstrates that:

• Two parties can jointly train AI models
• Collaboration can occur on shared customer datasets
• No original customer data needs to be shared or transferred

Release of Practical Guidance on Data Handling

Following this evaluation, the PDPC released Practical Guidance outlining how data should be:

• Classified
• Processed
• Protected

under Singapore’s current data protection regulations.

A key observation from the guidance includes:

• Secret shares generated during multi-party computation do not constitute personal data for receiving parties

This clarification provides organizations with greater certainty regarding compliance requirements when deploying PETs in collaborative environments.

Responsibility for Implementation Integrity

The guidance emphasizes that organizations must ensure:

• Robust implementation frameworks
• Reliable system performance
• Adequate data protection measures

These principles support the development of secure and compliant technology deployments.

Participation in IMDA PET Sandbox and Industry Initiatives

Ant International has actively participated in the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) PET Sandbox, an initiative designed to support experimentation and deployment of privacy-enhancing technologies.

Objectives of the PET Sandbox

The sandbox provides:

• Opportunities for companies to test PET applications
• Access to trusted solution providers
• A framework for evaluating real-world use cases

Regulatory Perspective on Deployment Milestone

Ms Denise Wong, Assistant Chief Executive of Data Innovation and Protection at IMDA and Commissioner of PDPC, stated:

“We are pleased that Ant International’s participation in IMDA’s PET Sandbox has resulted in the deployment of PETs in Alipay+, a global digital payment solution for many. This is a significant milestone that demonstrates Ant International’s commitment in prioritising trust with their partners and customers. PETs can be valuable tools to unlock new data opportunities, without compromising sensitive information, and we encourage more companies to join IMDA’s Sandbox to pilot the use of PETs.”

Advancing Trust Technologies Through Research Collaboration

Partnership With Nanyang Technological University

Ant International has entered the next phase of its collaboration with Nanyang Technological University through a Master Research Collaboration Agreement.

The partnership focuses on:

• Developing trust technologies
• Enhancing secure digital infrastructure
• Supporting cross-border payment systems

Research Outcomes and Ongoing Initiatives

During the first year of collaboration, the research team completed work on:

• Trusted AI frameworks
• Secure digital infrastructure models

Current efforts are focused on:

• Further development and deployment of PETs
• Applications supporting cross-border payments within Alipay+

This collaboration aligns research advancements with practical implementation in financial systems.

Leadership Commentary on Trust and Innovation

Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer of Ant International, stated:

“Trust in our systems is integral to our ability to deliver secure and efficient digital services to users globally. This upgrade enables us to safeguard and strengthen that trust, by giving partners and customers assurance that their data remains private throughout the payment lifecycle – even to us.”

This statement underscores the role of PETs in reinforcing trust as a foundational element of digital payment infrastructure.

About Ant International

Ant International is a global provider of digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology solutions for merchants and financial institutions.

The company operates a unified techfin platform that supports:

• Financial institutions
• Merchants of all sizes
• Cross-sector collaborations

Through partnerships across the private and public sectors, Ant International delivers solutions designed to enable:

• Inclusive growth
• Digital transformation
• Secure financial services delivery

Its offerings include a comprehensive range of digital payment and financial services solutions, supporting global commerce and financial inclusion initiatives.

Media Contact

For additional information, visit ant-intl.com.

Source Attribution

Source: Company announcement