Indian govt, RBI in talks to link UPI with Alipay+ for cross-border payments
03 Feb 2026, 12:26 PMAlipay+ has close to 1.8 billion user accounts and are used by over 150 million merchants.
Team Head&Tale
Share the story on
The Indian government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are holding talks with Ant International to link India's United Payments Interface (UPI) with the China-related company's digital payments platform Alipay+, the Reuters reported citing unidentified people.
The integration will allow Indian tourists and foreign diaspora to make payments using UPI in countries that accept payments through Alipay+.
Alipay+ has close to 1.8 billion user accounts and are used by over 150 million merchants. It is used in more than 100 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Meanwhile, UPI has become synonymous with digital payments in India with close to 18 billion transactions taking place on it every month. It set a new record in January 2026 for the number of transactions per month at 21.7 billion.
Notably, the talks with the China related company indicate thawing of ties between India and China. The relation between the two countries had become strained following the 2020 border clash that halted major business deals and led to intense scrutiny of Chinese investments. The thaw also comes in the wake of Trump's tariffs.
Who Reads Us
“I enjoy reading The Head and Tale for their coverage on the Fintech landscape. The reporting is incisive and honest, and it demonstrates a sharp understanding of the industry and the issues that concern it. I'd like to extend my best wishes to Arti for her continued success.”
“Well-researched, informative and analysis based reporting makes an interesting read. 'The Head and Tale' news portal has been demonstrating this quite well covering fintech and emerging tech sectors. Their timely updates, exclusive stories and different perspectives on these sectors help me stay informed. Kudos to Arti Singh for pursuing her passion and best wishes to the team.”
“The Head and Tale stands out for its deep industry knowledge and impressive network of sources. I especially appreciate that the reporting remains independent, rarely resorting to paid puff pieces, making it a publication I can genuinely trust. Having followed Arti’s work for years, I’ve come to rely on The Head and Tale for its unparalleled insight and truly independent coverage. Arti’s long-standing presence in the sector means her reporting is always informed, with access few can match.”
“What I really appreciate about The Head and Tale is that it doesn’t just report the news, it interprets it. The stories are well-researched, comprehensive, and bold. Arti brings a fearless lens to reporting, often asking the uncomfortable but necessary questions. She makes you pause, reflect, and rethink what it all means for the payments and fintech ecosystem. It’s rare to find journalism that’s this sharp, timely, and relevant to the work we do every day.”
“I’ve always valued journalism that goes beyond surface-level headlines. The Head and Tale does exactly that - it connects the dots, asks the tough questions, and brings clarity to the shifts shaping our evolving industry. I’ve even encouraged my team members to subscribe, because staying informed through credible, deeply reported stories is as important as building products. For me, The Head and Tale has become part of essential reading.”
