Kelvin Li (left) and Dr. Karin Boonlertvanich (right) during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony formalizing the strategic collaboration between Ant International and KASIKORNBANK to develop AI-powered and blockchain-enabled cross-border payment infrastructure.
KASIKORNBANK (KBank) and Ant International have signed a strategic partnership to develop an AI-powered and blockchain-enabled financial infrastructure aimed at improving cross-border payment efficiency and real-time transaction processing.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two companies will combine KBank’s regulated banking infrastructure with Ant International’s financial AI technologies to support 24/7 real-time cross-border USD transactions.
The initiative will utilize Blockchain Deposit Accounts from Kinexys by J.P. Morgan to enable real-time liquidity movement for USD transactions. The companies said the integration is expected to significantly improve transaction speed, scalability, and settlement reliability for international payments.
KBank and Ant International also plan to jointly develop end-to-end payment solutions covering payment acceptance, clearing, and settlement processes, subject to regulatory approvals.
The partnership aims to improve transaction efficiency and cash flow management for merchants using Ant International’s payment ecosystem, particularly businesses involved in global commerce.
The collaboration expands on KBank’s existing relationship with Ant International through Alipay+ and Antom. Through Alipay+, KBank’s KPLUS mobile banking app is connected to a global ecosystem of 150 million merchants and 2 billion consumer accounts worldwide. KPLUS is also integrated as a payment option for Thai merchants using Google Pay via Antom.
Dr. Karin Boonlertvanich said the partnership addresses long-standing challenges in cross-border financial infrastructure by combining blockchain technology with regulated banking systems to enable more transparent and scalable liquidity flows.
Meanwhile, Kelvin Li emphasized the growing role of AI and blockchain technologies in supporting emerging markets and helping merchants expand globally through more efficient digital payment systems.
The agreement reflects growing industry efforts to modernize global payment networks using AI, blockchain, and real-time financial technologies.
