Alipay in Europe
Have you ever wondered why more and more European businesses are turning to Alipay? With the rapid popularity of mobile payments, Alipay is not only widely used in China, but it's also making a new trend in Europe both among tourists and locals.
This article will explore how Alipay has entered the European market and introduce how Silkpay helps merchants quickly Alipay, seizing this global business opportunity.
What is Alipay?
Alipay is China's leading mobile payment platform, launched by Ant Financial, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. Since its establishment in 2004, Alipay has become the most commonly used payment method in China along with its competitor WeChat Pay.
Alipay counts 1.4 billion users in 2026. It is not just a payment tool, but it also integrates financial management, shopping, transportation, and various other services, becoming an indispensable part of daily life for every Chinese consumer.
How does Alipay work?
Alipay is a popular digital payment platform in China that enables users to make secure transactions through their smartphones.
It operates as a mobile wallet, allowing users to store funds, pay bills, transfer money, and shop online or in physical stores through a QR code scan.
To use Alipay, customers link their bank accounts or credit cards to the app. Once set up, the payment process varies slightly between online and in-store transactions:
Alipay online payment:
When shopping online, customers select Alipay as their payment method at checkout.
Then, they scan the QR code displayed on the merchant's website or app using the Alipay app.
After scanning, customers confirm the payment amount and authorize the transaction, often using a password or biometric verification.
Then the payment is successful.
Alipay in-store payment:
For in-person purchases, there are 3 main options to pay with Alipay (Via printed QR code or via POS machine or Silkpay app):
The merchant can display a printed QR code at the checkout counter for the customers to scan.
The merchant can generate a code in the POS machine or Silkpay app for the customer to scan. Or, the user can present their own QR code for the merchant to scan.
Once the payment is completed, the customer and the merchant receive the confirmation.
With Alipay, users can instantly make payments online and in-store, enjoying a fast and convenient payment experience.
Is Alipay just for Chinese tourists?
For years, the answer was yes. However, in 2026, the landscape of mobile payments has shifted. New merchants often ask about Alipay, but if you are a merchant already using Silkpay, you may have noticed a change: Alipay has evolved into Alipay+.
What does this change mean for your business? Today, the Alipay+ technology provided by Silkpay connects your business to a massive global audience. It acts as a "wallet of wallets," bridging the gap between European stores and over 20 major e-wallets from across the globe.
This means that today, the same QR code that accepts a payment from a Chinese tourist also works for:
Chinese travelers using their original Alipay app.
South Koreans paying with Kakao Pay or Naver Pay.
Malaysians using Touch 'n Go.
Filipinos using GCash.
Thai travelers using TrueMoney and many more tourists from other countries.
2026 merchant statistics: The impact in Europe
The data from the past year shows that the "Alipay+ effect" is real. European businesses are no longer just "China-ready", they are global-ready.
Italy: A 133% surge in sales
Italy is currently the fastest-growing market in the Eurozone for Alipay+. Merchants in Rome, Milan, and Florence saw transaction volumes skyrocket by 133% in 2025 as they began welcoming a much more diverse group of Asian travelers beyond just mainland China.
Germany: 73% more transactions
Germany has seen a 73% year-over-year increase in mobile wallet spending. From local pharmacies to high-end retail, German businesses are integrating Alipay+ to capture a market that is moving away from cash and traditional cards.
United Kingdom: 50,000+ active locations
With over 50,000 merchants already accepting Alipay+, the UK is a prime example of how Asian digital wallets are taking over. In major hubs like London, the ability to accept wallets like AlipayHK and Touch 'n Go has become a competitive necessity for the hospitality and luxury sectors.
France: Thousands of active point of sales
In France, Silkpay has empowered thousands of small and medium businesses; from local cafes, restaurants, supermarkets to luxury boutiques; to accept the same global payments as the biggest airports and department stores. It’s the easiest way to make a foreign traveler feel "at home" in your shop.
Why more merchants in Europe are adopting Alipay+
The rise of Asian tourism
The rise of Asian tourism continues to shape global travel trends in 2025, with travellers from East and Southeast Asia driving strong outbound spending and high engagement at international destinations.
According to recent industry data, outbound travel from markets such as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Greater China has largely recovered. This recovery has been marked by an increased spending capacity and purchasing power.
European destinations including France, Italy, Spain and the UK remain particularly attractive thanks to their cultural heritage, gastronomy and shopping experiences.
For this clientele, Alipay+ is a familiar payment method, significantly reducing the barriers to shopping abroad and making the customer spend more in your store without worrying about exchange fees or any problems that come with payments.
A higher traffic and a higher revenue
European merchants have understood that taking Alipay+ payments means more sales, a higher spending tendency and a higher revenue. Alipay+ has been rapidly adopted around Europe in different stores.
In addition, Alipay+'s digital marketing tools help merchants create personalized promotions and discounts for Chinese tourists to get closer to their clientele.
Not only that, Alipay+ allows its users to find nearby shops accepting Alipay+. Alipay+ users are more likely to visit your store if you are in this list. The Chinese clientele prefers convenience. Customers prefer to pay with their favorite payment method and Alipay+ has made it easier for them to find the stores that interest them within the app. Thus, it has become a must for stores in Europe to be listed in Alipay+.
Data-driven personalized services
Alipay+'s success is also attributed to its powerful data analytics capabilities it offers to merchants.
By analyzing users' consuming and spending habits, Alipay+ can offer personalized transaction recommendations. It helps merchants with targeted marketing hugely increase sales opportunities.
How Silkpay helps merchants accept Alipay+ payments in Europe
As Alipay+ becomes a more popular and accessible payment method across Europe, an increasing number of merchants are choosing to accept it to boost their revenue.
Silkpay provides services to merchants who seek to integrate Alipay+ into their payment options.
Merchants can choose from the following three ways to accept Alipay+ payments: A wireless POS terminal, Silkpay’s mobile app, PaybyLink and cash register software.
How Alipay+ is changing consumer habits
The transition to a cashless society
Alipay+ has greatly accelerated the shift from cash payments to cashless payments in China, changing people's daily consumption habits.
Today, whether in big cities or small towns in China, cash payments are becoming increasingly rare. Mobile payment methods are now widely used in all kinds of places, from street vendors to high-end shopping centers, becoming the main payment options.
This widespread adoption of cashless payments has not only improved transaction efficiency but has also changed how businesses operate, promoted the development of the digital economy, and enhanced the overall convenience of society.
Inclusive finance
The popularity of Alipay+ has also promoted inclusive finance. By using Alipay+, people can easily manage their finances, apply for loans, and buy insurance, offering convenient financial solutions, especially for people living in remote areas who lack access to traditional financial services.
Social connectivity
Alipay+ also strengthens social connections and cohesion through features like social functions and charitable donations. For example, Alipay+'s Ant Forest project allows users to reduce their carbon footprint by using digital payments and participate in tree planting, thus raising environmental awareness.
Conclusion
Alipay+ has not only profoundly changed payment habits in China, driving the formation of a cashless society. It has also successfully expanded into international markets through partnerships with payment gateways such as Silkpay to allow merchants around the world to collect Alipay+ payments.
As more and more Chinese tourists choose to travel to Europe or settle there for years, Alipay+ makes them feel home and welcome. Also, Silkpay helps merchants smoothly integrate Alipay+, enhancing the customer experience.
In the future, Alipay+’s global influence is expected to continue to grow, bringing new opportunities and business prospects to merchants.
About the author: Silkpay
Based in Paris, Silkpay provides omnichannel and secure payment solutions to help physical stores and e-commerce in Europe and the Americas accept more than 30 of the world's most popular payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, CB, UnionPay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay as well as Asia-Pacific’s major e-wallets.
Silkpay is a winner of the LVMH Innovation Award. The company was also selected as a finalist for the "Money 20/20" Best Startup and in the "MPE Berlin” Startup Awards. Silkpay also won the "Best Fintech" awards from Capgemini and BPCE.
Silkpay helps merchants deliver the smoothest payment experience to their customers. We are a talented and international team driven by a single goal: to improve the customer experience and make payments simple and secure.
Sources
https://english.news.cn/20240509/375408945b724d1bb81887405281c7bd/c.html
https://webcertain.com/site/knowhowamp/alipay-is-now-available-in-italy/kb3649