Liquid Group, a digital payments provider, and Aplus, a payment and consumer credit company, have announced their partnership, which will enable cross-border QR payments for inbound transactions in Japan. Aplus becomes Liquid Group’s first XNAP acquirer in Japan, and XNAP digital wallets will be progressively accepted across Aplus’ nationwide merchant network in Japan.

This partnership ensures multiple XNAP digital wallets from multiple nations, initially from Singapore, to be accepted by Aplus’ nationwide merchants in Japan. Liquid Group’s XNAP platform now extends to major markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China, and South Korea. The XNAP digital wallets in these markets will be able to expand into the Japan market as soon as they are ready, through Aplus’ merchant’s network.

Liquid Group, headquartered in Singapore, operates XNAP, a regional QR payment acceptance network that enables the cross-border acceptance of payment schemes and digital payment apps.

Aplus, as the main subsidiary of Shinsei Bank, offers comprehensive financial services for consumers and merchants, including consumer credit services, settlement services, acquiring merchants for domestic and foreign QR code payments, and so on. Aplus is a principal member of major international payment networks for both issuing and acquiring roles.

Jeremy Tan, Founder, CEO, Liquid Group, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Aplus as our first acquiring partner in the Japan market. After close to two years of minimal cross border travel, we are honored to partner Aplus and their merchants to support the resumption of cross border tourist spending as travel gradually opens across the Asia Pacific. We look forward to a successful 2022 ahead with Aplus.”

Tetsuro Shimizu, CEO, Aplus, said, “Aplus has been promoting multi-acquiring of overseas code payments since 2016 when we became WechatPay’s first acquirer in Japan. With the launch of Liquid Group’s XNAP, we will be able to provide payment services in a wide range of countries, starting with Singapore. We are honored to launch XNAP in Japan, and we will further expand its payment services to Japanese merchants to enhance the customer experience for inbound tourists in Japan.”