Cover for the September 2026 edition of the PYMNTS Intelligence and The Clearing House Real-Time Payments World Map. Real-time payments are entering a new phase in Asia-Pacific, with cross-border links, new use cases and automated payment pilots the focus.

Interoperability, Not Just Speed, Now Drives Asia-Pacific’s Real-Time Payments Agenda

Real-Time Payments World Map - September 2026

The Real-Time Payments World Map, a collaboration with The Clearing House, explores the latest developments shaping the evolution and expansion of instant payments in Asia-Pacific and around the world.

Inside the September World Map

  • Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines are linking their domestic instant payment systems through Project Nexus, allowing one connection to access the wider regional network.
  • India and Ant International are reportedly discussing a link between UPI and Alipay+, which spans 100+ markets, 1.8 billion accounts and 150 million+ merchants.
  • China is preparing to commercially launch mBridge, a digital currency platform for direct cross-border settlements between central banks in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

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