Airwallex secures key regulatory approvals for  full commercial launch in Malaysia

• Licences mark shift to full commercial offering in Malaysia
• Expansion driven by cross-border demand and US$425 mil in transactions

Airwallex, a leading global financial and payments platform, has received approval from Bank Negara Malaysia for its e-money issuing and Class A licences, enabling it to offer a full suite of payment services in Malaysia. In a statement, the company said this empowers businesses to expand across borders, while enabling global companies to operate more seamlessly in the local market.

“Malaysia is a strategic market for Airwallex, and these approvals enable us to bring our full financial infrastructure to businesses on the ground,” said Arnold Chan (pix), general manager, Asia-Pacific, Airwallex. “We’re excited to support local businesses in scaling internationally and to contribute to Malaysia’s position as a regional growth hub.”

Holding both licences allows Airwallex to expand beyond payments to support multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange and broader business use cases within a single platform.

The approvals build on Airwallex’s existing Class B Money Services Business licence and Registered Merchant Acquirer status, marking its transition from offering selective products to a broader set of services for Malaysian businesses.

Airwallex has also expanded its local presence, growing its Malaysia team by 66% in 2025 and moving into a new office with capacity for over 160 employees. The company plans to double its headcount in 2026. This expansion comes alongside growing business activity, with over US$425 million (RM2 billion) in remittance transaction volume processed in 2025, driven by demand from Malaysian businesses operating across borders.

“As one of the few non-bank players with this level of regulatory coverage, we are well positioned to support businesses as they grow beyond borders,” Chan said. “From managing multi-currency collections to enabling global payouts at scale, we provide the infrastructure businesses need to operate more efficiently.”

According to Airwallex, Malaysia’s digital economy is projected to contribute 30% of GDP by 2030, with growing cross-border activity reinforcing demand for seamless, multi-currency financial infrastructure.