Fiuu Secures Regional JCB Direct Acquiring Licence, Expands Digital Payments Network Across Southeast Asia
PETALING JAYA: Southeast Asian financial technology (fintech) company Fiuu has strengthened its position in the regional digital payments industry after securing a JCB Direct Acquiring licence covering Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
The milestone enables Fiuu to connect directly with JCB’s global payment network and process card transactions internally without relying on intermediary acquiring partners, allowing the company to improve transaction efficiency, payment reliability and settlement speed for merchants across the region.
Fiuu Chief Executive Officer Eng Sheng Guan said the appointment marks an important step in the company’s long-term strategy to expand its regional payment acquiring capabilities as digital commerce continues to accelerate across Southeast Asia.
According to him, businesses operating across multiple Southeast Asian markets increasingly require payment partners that combine direct access to international card networks with strong local market expertise.
He said the direct acquiring partnership with JCB provides that capability by enabling Fiuu to offer merchants broader payment acceptance, more consistent transaction processing and greater confidence in serving customers across both digital and physical retail environments.
The direct acquiring licence also gives Fiuu greater operational control over payment processing, transaction settlement and merchant service performance, reducing dependence on third-party processors while improving transparency throughout the payment lifecycle.
The enhanced infrastructure is expected to support faster payment settlements and strengthen the overall customer experience for merchants using the company’s payment solutions.
Fiuu reported a Total Payment Volume (TPV) of US$13 billion during the 2025 financial year, reflecting the company’s growing role in processing digital payment transactions across a wide range of industries throughout Southeast Asia.
Eng noted that the region’s rapid digital commerce expansion continues to be driven by rising adoption of cashless payments, with more than 60 per cent of transactions now conducted digitally and three out of five consumers shopping online.
Despite the increasing popularity of QR code payments and digital wallets, he said credit cards remain an important component of the regional payment ecosystem due to established consumer spending habits and attractive loyalty reward programmes.
As a result, demand for stronger and more efficient card acceptance infrastructure continues to grow alongside broader digital payment adoption.
Meanwhile, JCB International Asia Pacific Managing Director Shimpei Yamaguchi said the collaboration with Fiuu is expected to expand JCB card acceptance among merchants across Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
He said Fiuu’s regional expertise, expanding merchant network and multi-channel payment capabilities make the company an important strategic partner in strengthening JCB’s payment ecosystem throughout Southeast Asia.
As of 2026, JCB has issued approximately 181 million cards worldwide, with acceptance at more than 72 million merchant locations globally.
Looking ahead, Fiuu plans to extend its direct acquiring capabilities into Thailand as part of its broader ambition to become one of Southeast Asia’s leading regional card acquirers.
The expansion is expected to further enhance the company’s ability to provide secure, scalable and efficient payment solutions for businesses operating across the region’s increasingly integrated digital economy.
