Visa expands Hong Kong partnerships to enable AI payments

Its new programmes combine identity checks and transaction controls.

Visa has expanded its partnerships in Hong Kong to develop AI-powered commerce and digital payment solutions, as it looks to connect emerging technologies with its global payment network.

The collaborations were announced at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2026, held on 6 November, and involve banks, fintech companies, technology firms and regulators.

Visa is working to develop secure payment systems that allow AI agents to initiate transactions on behalf of consumers and businesses.

Its Visa Intelligent Commerce and Visa Agentic Ready programmes combine identity verification, authentication, tokenisation, risk management and transaction controls.

The company is also working with fintech firm Reap to explore AI-powered shopping and payment experiences. The partnership builds on their earlier collaboration to introduce stablecoin-linked Visa credit card programmes in more than 100 markets, subject to local regulatory requirements.

Visa has also deepened its collaboration with Bank of China (Hong Kong) through the GenA.I. Sandbox++, which brings together dining platform OpenRice and telecommunications operator China Mobile Hong Kong to explore secure, consent-based AI transactions.

Separately, Visa signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation to develop solutions in AI, agentic commerce and digital payments, with the aim of helping local innovations expand internationally.

Visa has also joined the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Agentic Finance Expert Group to support the development of agentic finance, including work on agent identity, interoperability standards and regulatory frameworks.

In digital payments, Visa is working with Anchorpoint to explore how HKDAP, its regulated Hong Kong dollar-referenced stablecoin, could connect with Visa’s global payment network. Initial discussions will focus on settlement options for card issuers.

The collaboration comes as Hong Kong develops its regulatory framework for stablecoins.

The Stablecoins Ordinance introduced licensing requirements for issuers of fiat-referenced stablecoins, covering reserves, redemption, risk management and anti-money laundering controls.