Airwallex said on October 3, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur that it plans to double its Malaysia headcount this year, citing growing cross-border transaction volumes. The plan follows more than RM2 billion in Malaysian remittance volume in 2025 and Bank Negara Malaysia’s approval of its expanded payment licences earlier in the year.
Key Facts At A Glance
- Airwallex plans to double its Malaysia headcount in 2026.
- Its Malaysia workforce grew 66 per cent in 2025.
- It recently moved into a Malaysia office with capacity for more than 160 employees.
- It processed more than RM2 billion in remittance transaction volume in Malaysia in 2025.
- Bank Negara Malaysia approved its e-money issuing and Class A licences, as announced on April 1, 2026.
- The approvals build on its existing Class B Money Services Business licence and Registered Merchant Acquirer status.
- The plan was reiterated at an October 3 fireside chat that included McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown.
Global financial technology company Airwallex plans to double its headcount in Malaysia this year as it deepens its local presence, supported by growing cross-border transaction volumes. The plan was outlined on October 3, 2026, by Jon Stona, Airwallex’s vice-president of global marketing.
Airwallex grew its Malaysia workforce by 66 per cent in 2025 and recently moved into a new office with capacity for more than 160 employees. The company processed more than RM2 billion in remittance transaction volume in Malaysia in 2025, which it attributed to rising demand from Malaysian businesses operating across borders.
Regulatory Footing In Malaysia
The expansion follows approval from Bank Negara Malaysia for its e-money issuing and Class A licences, which allow it to provide a complete suite of payment services in Malaysia. The approvals build on Airwallex’s existing Class B Money Services Business licence and its status as a Registered Merchant Acquirer.
Announcing the licences, Arnold Chan, General Manager for Asia-Pacific at Airwallex, said “Malaysia is a strategic market for Airwallex.” The company first disclosed its plan to double Malaysia headcount in 2026 in the same announcement.
Strategy Remarks
Stona said Malaysia exemplifies the company’s approach of keeping global consistency while staying locally relevant. He said Airwallex had invested in building its Malaysian presence over several years, including a local team and office, and described speed as part of scaling a business rather than a trade-off against consistency.
Stona spoke at a fireside chat that also included McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown and was moderated by Andrew Chim, Airwallex’s head of Southeast Asia expansion. He said Airwallex’s partnership with McLaren Racing had exceeded expectations and helped shape later sports partnerships.
Globally, more than 200,000 companies use Airwallex to manage their banking and financial operations or to build their own financial products on its infrastructure. Airwallex has not disclosed its current Malaysia headcount, the roles it plans to fill, or a detailed hiring timeline, and publicly available information on the expansion remains limited.