OpenWay, UnionPay International strengthen global payments collaboration

By Puja Sharma

OpenWay, a digital payment software, and UnionPay International (UPI), a payment network platform, have expanded their partnership to deliver complete support for Union Pay International products on the Way4 platform.

Way4 is OpenWay’s digital payment software platform used by banks, processors, and FinTechs to run card issuing, acquiring, switching, and digital wallet services in real time. With this expansion, OpenWay clients worldwide can now issue, acquire, and tokenise UnionPay cards on Way4, enabling a faster and more consistent rollout of Union Pay-powered payment services across markets.

In a major industry first, OpenWay has enabled the initial launch of Big Pay functionality for UnionPay cards on the Way4 platform with six major banks in Central Asia. This marks the first time globally that a UnionPay card has been integrated with a Big Pay, reflecting OpenWay’s commitment to innovation in digital payments.

Additional Big Pay integrations are planned and expected to go live in the near future, expanding the range of mobile and digital wallet options available to UnionPay cardholders on Way4.

OpenWay has consistently pioneered innovation in the global payments industry, especially in the implementation of international payment schemes (IPS) solutions. In 2004, OpenWay powered the first-ever issuance of a UnionPay card in Kazakhstan on Way4 platform. Since then, OpenWay has played a central role in transforming Central Asia into a FinTech innovation hub. The close cooperation between OpenWay and UnionPay International has supported numerous firsts, including the rollout of UnionPay chip cards and acquiring infrastructure across Central Asia.

Today, the Way4 platform is recognised globally for its excellence in cross-border card scheme integration, wallet-based innovation, real-time payments, and AI-based payment solutions. It exemplifies OpenWay’s ability to align global standards with local financial infrastructure—bringing future-ready capabilities to every market it enters.

“This partnership demonstrates the power of glocal innovation,” said Rustem Nurmambetov, Operational Director, OpenWay in Central Asia. “Global breakthroughs often begin with local vision. Together with UnionPay International and our local banking partners, we are setting a global precedent for modern, inclusive, and interoperable payments.”