PhotonPay

PhotonPay is a digital financial infrastructure provider founded in 2015 by Lewison Chen, who currently serves as the CEO. With a background in computer science and over a decade of experience in the internet and payments industries, Chen guides the company in creating solutions for businesses operating globally. A key decision in the company's history was the shift to a global focus in 2018, prompted by increasing uncertainty in China's domestic mobile payment market.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, PhotonPay has expanded its presence with 11 international offices and over 300 employees. The company has secured licenses and complies with regulations in multiple regions, including Hong Kong, the US, Canada, the UK, and Poland. In January 2026, PhotonPay announced a Series B funding round of tens of millions of dollars, led by IDG Capital, with participation from investors like Hillhouse Investment and Lightspeed Faction. This capital is intended to expand its stablecoin financial rails and global regulatory footprint.

PhotonPay's business model centers on providing a comprehensive suite of financial tools designed to reduce the friction in cross-border commerce. It serves over 200,000 businesses across various sectors, including e-commerce, B2B trade, online travel agencies, logistics, AI, and SaaS. The company generates revenue by monetizing payment flows through transaction fees and offering value-added services. The platform processes over $30 billion in annualized payment volume.

The company's core services include multi-currency global accounts, card issuing, online payment acceptance, global payouts, foreign exchange management, and embedded finance solutions via API. A significant development is its focus on a stablecoin-native clearing infrastructure, which enables 24/7 instant settlement and automated payment workflows. PhotonPay has established partnerships with major financial institutions like Mastercard, Discover® Global Network, J.P. Morgan, Circle, and Standard Chartered. These collaborations allow it to issue both virtual and physical commercial credit cards, further integrating its digital platform with global payment networks.

Keywords: global payments, financial infrastructure, cross-border commerce, embedded finance, stablecoin payments, multi-currency accounts, payment processing, card issuing, foreign exchange management, API-first platform, fintech, B2B payments, online travel agencies, e-commerce payments, digital economy, global payouts, treasury solutions, risk management, AI-powered finance, SaaS payments