Airwallex, a global financial and payments platform, has been granted an e-money issuing licence and a Class A licence from Bank Negara Malaysia. This approval will enable the company to offer a comprehensive range of payment services to businesses within Malaysia.

Building on Airwallex’s existing Class B Money Services Business licence and its status as a Registered Merchant Acquirer, these new licences expand Airwallex’s regulatory scope in Malaysia. With both types of licences, Airwallex can now provide multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange services, payment processing, and support complex cross-border business operations through a unified platform.

Local Investment and Market Momentum

Airwallex has been expanding its presence in Malaysia by increasing the size of its local team. In 2025, the company grew its Malaysian workforce by 66%, and it has moved into larger premises that can accommodate over 160 employees. Airwallex intends to double its staff numbers in the country during 2026. The company processed transactions amounting to over USD 496 million in Malaysia last year, driven by increasing demand from businesses operating internationally.

Malaysia aims for digital economy activities to account for 30% of GDP by 2030, positioning the country as one of the most trade-intensive economies globally. Strong e-commerce growth and rising cross-border business activity are driving higher demand among local companies for multi-currency financial infrastructure, which Airwallex now has the ability to offer.

Arnold Chan, General Manager of Asia-Pacific at Airwallex, mentioned that Malaysia is a key market for the company. The new licences will allow Airwallex to provide full financial infrastructure services directly to businesses operating in the country. He highlighted Airwallex as one of few non-bank players with this level of regulatory coverage in Malaysia, well-positioned to support companies managing multi-currency collections and global payouts on a large scale.