Bluecode Expands Global Payment Acceptance for Europeans via Interoperability with Alipay+

25.06.2026 - Bluecode has enabled new payment interoperability in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America for its partner banks interfacing with global merchants in collaboration with Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway, driving digitisation and tourism growth worldwide.

Users of hundreds of Bluecode’s participating issuing members can now make safe and secure cross-border mobile payments in 60 destinations, at millions of merchants of all sizes. This is a significant expansion of the partnership which began in 2024 by enabling cross-border payments across Europe. 

Europeans now have an alternative beyond card schemes when travelling abroad, using a seamless European mobile payment system with the same experience and security they know and trust. Safety is prioritised through anonymous payment processes and biometric authentication to ensure that personal and transaction data remains protected when travelling. 

Alipay+ is widely accepted in popular Asian destinations like Hong Kong (SAR, China), Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, and South Korea, where merchants can now accept QR payments from Bluecode. With Alipay+, European travellers can connect with merchants and access everyday services like transportation more easily, allowing them to ‘pay like a local’ abroad. Alipay+ can be used at retail and department stores, tourist attractions, convenience stores, and public transport, facilitating an improved travel experience. 

Later this year, interoperability with Alipay+ will expand to allow users of Bluecode’s participating issuing members to make cross-border transactions in more Asian markets including the Chinese mainland and Thailand, connecting them with millions of additional merchants across Asia. Looking ahead, the partnership plans a broader roll-out that will extend coverage to over 220 markets supported by Alipay+ worldwide. 

“Just as users enjoy uninterrupted mobile telco services when moving across borders, we are applying the same principle to payments with our ‘Payment Roaming’ solution,” said Christian Pirkner, CEO of Bluecode, adding, “We remain committed to our vision to create European payment solutions that are accepted on a global scale.” 

Like in the SIM card roaming industry, the only technical, legal, and commercial relationship for Bluecode member banks and their users is with Bluecode.** The payment process itself is either initiated by showing or scanning a QR-code at the merchant’s point of sale, depending on the location and use case. The Alipay+ payment solution is available through the Bluecode app on iOS and Android, and the latest Bluecode SDK (Software Development Kit) enables any banking app or payment wallet to pay with Bluecode at Alipay+ enabled merchants. Moreover, the technical solution can also be easily adopted by other European schemes through the central interoperability hub built by Bluecode.  

“Through this collaboration, Bluecode and Alipay+ demonstrate that European payment schemes can operate securely and seamlessly across borders while maintaining their local foundation. We thank Bluecode for connecting our merchants to its member banks and users, creating a payment bridge between Europe and Asia that connects local schemes and financial institutions,” added Pietro Candela, General Manager of Europe at Alipay+.  

Alipay+ connects over 2 billion user accounts across more than 50 mobile payment providers, including e-wallets and banking apps, to serve over 150 million QR merchants and 150 million NFC merchants in more than 220 markets. 

About Bluecode: 

Bluecode is a European mobile payment system enabling cashless payments via barcode, QR code, and NFC directly out of digital wallets, bank and partner apps into the largest point-of-sale payment network in the world. Bluecode is either directly linked to the user’s bank account, digital wallet or used as a prepaid solution. Bluecode collaborates with international networks such as Discover Network, Alipay+, and EMPSA (European Mobile Payment Systems Association) and implemented legal, technical and commercial interoperability with over 50 payment schemes around the world, building a global acceptance network of over 200 million merchants. The Bluecode payment technology is available in the Bluecode app and can be integrated into any digital wallet, bank or partner app enabling payments at point-of-sale. One connection to the Bluecode scheme gives global payment reach. More information: www.bluecode.com 

About Alipay+: 

Ant International's Alipay+ is a unified wallet gateway with cross-border payment and digitisation services that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payments a broad choice of deals and the convenience of digital services using their preferred payment app/e-wallet while travelling abroad. Many small and medium-sized businesses already use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth. More information: www.alipayplus.com

Press contact:  

Bluecode 
Claudio Wilhelmer 
press@bluecode.com    

Alipay+ 
PR@Ant-Intl.com