Alipay expands U.S. acceptance with FreedomPay, First Data deals

Alipay has partnered with FreedomPay and expanded an existing deal with First Data to deepen U.S. merchant acceptance at key destinations for Chinese tourists.

Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg

Through a new agreement with FreedomPay, users of the Alipay mobile wallet can make purchases at thousands of merchants in North America operating at airports, travel plazas, entertainment and sports venues, resorts and universities, where Philadelphia-based FreedomPay has high merchant density, according to a Monday press release.

“Our partnership with FreedomPay will expand our footprint across North America and offer Alipay across targeted verticals, particularly those that cater to Chinese tourists,” said Souheil Badran, president of Alipay Americas, in the release.

Separately, Alipay has expanded its partnership with First Data to add 35,000 U.S. merchants to an estimated 4 million that already accept Alipay, according to a Monday press release. Alipay, a service offered by Alibaba's payments affiliate Ant Financial, made its first move for U.S. acceptance via First Data in late 2016, and expanded that deal significantly in May 2017.

The luxury jewelry store chain Tourneau and Millennium Hotels and Resorts in New York, Boston and Los Angeles are among merchants covered in the expanded First Data pact, the release said.