Under the partnership announced Thursday (Aug. 13), merchants using Airwallex can make Affirm available at checkout without completing a separate integration. U.S. shoppers who qualify can choose among payment options that include four interest-free installments or monthly payments spread over as many as 24 months, according to the companies. Affirm says it does not charge late or hidden fees and displays the payment terms to shoppers before they complete a purchase.
The arrangement comes as payment providers compete to give merchants more ways to accommodate consumers who want to spread out the cost of purchases. For businesses selling internationally, offering familiar payment methods can also reduce friction for shoppers who may prefer alternatives to paying the full amount at checkout.
Airwallex said its platform supports more than 160 payment methods worldwide. The company said adding Affirm gives its international merchant base another option for U.S. customers without requiring merchants to manage a separate integration.
“More merchants around the world are looking for better ways to serve US shoppers, and payment choice at checkout is an important part of that,” Steve McPhee, Affirm’s vice president of strategic partnerships, said in a statement.
Jason Gottlieb, Airwallex’s vice president of financial and strategic partnerships, added that merchants use the company’s platform to offer payment options tailored to shoppers in different markets. Adding Affirm could help international merchants reach more U.S. consumers, he said.
The partnership with Affirm is part of a broader push by Airwallex to expand beyond cross-border payments and build financial infrastructure for businesses and new forms of commerce. In June, the company raised $320 million at an $11 billion valuation to invest in autonomous finance and agentic commerce, including an AI-powered financial platform and a consumer wallet designed to support agent-driven payments.
In July, Airwallex and Visa also announced plans to develop embedded-finance solutions for freight and shipping platforms, targeting payments, working capital and cross-border commerce.
