Tencent’s latest solution simplifies cross-border payments for Weixin users and merchants.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:33 PM
Tencent's large penguin statue in front of a building. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
In a world where digital borders are fading faster than ever, Tencent is betting on familiarity. With the launch of TenPay Global Checkout, the company wants to make paying across countries feel as seamless as paying at home.
The new service, unveiled today, allows Weixin Mini Program merchants outside mainland China to accept a variety of local payment methods. That includes digital wallets, real-time payment networks and credit and debit cards, all through a single integration. The launch starts in Singapore and Macao SAR, where merchants can now take payments via PayNow, BOCPAY(MO), and major cards. Japan, Australia and New Zealand are next, with more regions to follow soon.
This rollout builds on the growing reach of Weixin Mini Programs, known internationally through WeChat. These small apps are built right into the platform, letting users' shop, book services and make payments without downloading separate apps. Today, there are over one million monthly active users in key overseas markets, with Mini Programs available across 92 countries and regions.
Yet, for many users abroad, paying within Mini Programs hasn’t always been simple. Foreign card restrictions, currency conversions and limited local options often made checkout a frustrating step. TenPay Global Checkout aims to change that.
“TenPay Global Checkout marks an important step in enhancing the local consumer experience. By enabling overseas Weixin Mini Program merchants to accept trusted and diversified local payment methods through one unified solution, users benefit from a more convenient and efficient payment experience. This helps merchants improve payment conversion rates, expand their user base and scale their businesses to serve a broader range of customers”, said Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global (Singapore).
What makes this move interesting isn’t just its technical simplicity—it’s the cultural bridge it builds. For users in Singapore or Japan, paying with PayNow or a local card inside Weixin feels less like an international transaction and more like an everyday purchase.
For merchants, it’s an invitation into a market that values convenience and trust. Payment familiarity, after all, often decides whether a user completes a purchase or abandons it at checkout.
The company remains focused on creating secure, connected and user-friendly payment experiences that help merchants grow and allow consumers to pay with confidence, wherever they are.
If successful, TenPay Global Checkout could quietly redefine how cross-border commerce feels—not like a transaction across regions, but a familiar tap, scan or click. In an increasingly global marketplace, that kind of familiarity might just be the next frontier in digital trust.
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New funding and ad support aim to ease capital gaps for small wedding businesses
Updated
March 17, 2026 1:01 AM
Mannequins display white wedding dresses in a bridal shop window. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
The Knot Worldwide, a global wedding technology platform and vendor marketplace, has launched a new grant initiative aimed at small businesses in the wedding industry.
The company, which operates brands such as The Knot and WeddingWire, connects couples with wedding professionals and provides tools to help vendors grow. It says the new WeddingPro Grant Program is designed to address a persistent challenge in the sector: access to capital.
Under the program, up to US$500,000 will be distributed to U.S.-based wedding professionals who run small businesses. The support will come in the form of financial grants, advertising credits on WeddingPro and mentorship. Selected businesses will also receive access to education resources and community support through the company’s network.
The move comes at a time when many wedding businesses remain small and resource-constrained. According to the company’s State of the Vendor Report, more than half of wedding businesses employ fewer than ten people. Three in four professionals surveyed said adaptability is critical to long-term success, while flexible funding remains a barrier. The grant program is positioned as a response to that funding gap.
“Our mission at The Knot Worldwide is to help the nearly 900,000 small businesses on our global platforms get discovered through our centralized vendor marketplace as well as give them the tools and resources to grow their business,” said Raina Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer, The Knot Worldwide. “We consistently hear from our wedding professionals that access to capital is a barrier to getting started in the industry. With our new WeddingPro Grant Program, we will provide access to both capital and critical support services such as mentorship and education that will enable small business owners to further grow and scale.”
The application window opens on February 23 and closes on March 27. Winners are expected to be notified by May 2026, subject to eligibility verification and compliance with the official rules.
The program is open to U.S. wedding professionals who operate small businesses, have been in business for at least six months, can demonstrate an active revenue stream and earn at least 50% of their revenue from weddings. Applicants must submit a short form and a video outlining their business and how they would use the grant funds over the next 12 to 24 months. They can choose whether they prefer a monetary grant or free advertising support on WeddingPro.
To execute the program, The Knot Worldwide has partnered with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs worldwide. The company says the initiative builds on earlier efforts to support vendors on its platform, which includes about 200,000 wedding professionals in the United States. Its impact will depend on how effectively the support reaches the businesses that need it most. The real measure will be whether it helps them achieve steady, sustainable growth.