WorldFirst, an all-in-one digital cross-border payment and treasury service offered by Ant International to global businesses, has launched “World Card,” a Mastercard-enabled virtual card solution designed to help small and medium enterprises grow by simplifying international transactions and lowering operational costs.
Small businesses stand to benefit from the e-commerce boom, where the market size is projected to reach USD 12.9 trillion in 2032 with a 13.65% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), according to Research and Markets. However, they also face a range of challenges in capitalizing on this potential, including high entry barriers, rising operational costs, and fierce competition, WorldFirst found in a report it co-produced with Deloitte.
Having reportedly empowered over a million SMEs to scale internationally, WorldFirst has partnered with Mastercard to develop the following customized features for World Card, enhancing operational efficiency for global customers:
- Global coverage across regions and use scenarios: Customers can pay with World Card for purchases anywhere Mastercard is accepted, in over 150 currencies across more than 210 territories. There are no foreign exchange fees for cross-border payments made in 15 currencies when paying with a WorldFirst account, including major currencies such as the US dollar, Chinese yuan, and euro, among others. The service covers most recurring business scenarios, ranging from digital marketing to e-commerce, software subscriptions, shipping and logistics, and more.
- Security: World Card has achieved the highest level of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification. It uses 3DS and AVS transaction verifications, offers round-the-clock real-time assistance, and customizable spending limits to secure transactions and prevent fraud.
- Transparent and centralized multi-card management: Customers may create multiple cards to segment their expenses starting later this year. All spending can be tracked in one central dashboard, enabling precise control over expenditure.
- Cashback rewards: A program offers cashback on eligible payments to help customers save and grow, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
The World Card seeks to complement the offerings of the “World Account,” the flagship product of WorldFirst encompassing international payment, collection, foreign exchange conversion, and treasury management from a single account.
In 2025, the World Card will be rolled out to markets across Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Africa. It will also begin to support Apple Pay and Google Pay in the coming months.
A physical World Card will also be made available this year, enabling in-person transactions while serving as a backup when digital payments aren’t possible. The physical card retains the digital version’s benefits, including multi-currency support, cashback, and security through unified platform management—while ensuring compatibility with point-of-sale chip-card terminals.
“With the launch of the World Card, WorldFirst and Mastercard are giving ambitious businesses a smarter way to manage spending. Today’s small businesses often have global ambitions, but outdated payment processes can hold them back. The new solution offers the ease, security, and international reach they need to scale without borders. Together, we’re helping them simplify operations, stay on top of spending, and expand into new markets,” said Jane Prokop, executive vice president and global head of SMEs at Mastercard.
“WorldFirst enables business growth by delivering solutions featuring global coverage, secure transactions and operational efficiency—essential foundations for SMEs’ success in today’s digital economy. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Mastercard and industry leaders to pioneer innovative solutions like World Card, empowering SMEs and drive inclusive growth,” said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst and vice president at Ant International.
WorldFirst is part of Ant International, a leading global digital payment, digitization, and financial technology provider offering a unified tech and finance platform to unlock next-generation commerce for all.
This article was written by Ant International and published in partnership.