ALMATY, Kazakhstan and MONT-SAINT-GUILBERT, Belgium,— OpenWay, a global leader in digital payment software, and UnionPay International (UPI), one of the world’s largest payment networks, today announced the expansion of their partnership to deliver complete support for UnionPay products on the Way4 platform.
Way4, OpenWay’s flagship digital payment software, is widely used by banks, processors, and fintech companies to manage card issuing, acquiring, switching, and digital wallet services in real time. Through this expanded collaboration, OpenWay clients worldwide can now issue, acquire, and tokenize UnionPay cards directly on the Way4 platform. This integration enables faster, more consistent rollout of UnionPay-powered payment services across multiple markets, ensuring cardholders enjoy seamless access to modern digital payment solutions.
A key milestone in this collaboration is the global first launch of Big Pay functionality for UnionPay cards via Way4 with six major banks in Central Asia. This pioneering implementation represents the first time a UnionPay card has been integrated with a Big Pay, highlighting OpenWay’s commitment to innovation in digital payments and creating a precedent for future global deployments. Additional Big Pay integrations are planned in the near term, which will expand mobile and digital wallet capabilities for UnionPay cardholders.
OpenWay has a long-standing history of driving payment innovation in Central Asia. Since 2004, when OpenWay powered the first-ever issuance of a UnionPay card in Kazakhstan on the Way4 platform, the company has played a central role in transforming the region into a fintech innovation hub. Through its close cooperation with UnionPay International, OpenWay has supported numerous industry firsts, including the rollout of UnionPay chip cards and acquiring infrastructure across the region. Today, the Way4 platform is recognized globally for its excellence in cross-border card scheme integration, wallet-based innovation, real-time payments, and AI-driven payment solutions.
The Way4 platform exemplifies OpenWay’s ability to align international standards with local financial infrastructure. By combining global expertise with local market understanding, the platform delivers future-ready capabilities to every financial institution and fintech partner it serves. This approach ensures that both banks and end-users benefit from interoperable, scalable, and secure payment solutions across a variety of channels.
Rustem Nurmambetov, Operational Director at OpenWay in Central Asia, said: “This partnership demonstrates the power of glocal innovation. 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. By expanding support for UnionPay products on Way4, we are not only enabling faster and more reliable payment services but also helping financial institutions deliver a seamless experience to their customers.”
The expanded partnership is part of OpenWay and UnionPay International’s ongoing commitment to advance digital payment innovation globally. By combining OpenWay’s advanced digital payment software with UnionPay’s extensive international card network, the collaboration is designed to meet the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and end-users alike.
Looking ahead, OpenWay and UnionPay International aim to continue pioneering new digital payment solutions, including enhanced tokenization, real-time processing, and integration with emerging mobile and wallet technologies. Their joint efforts are expected to set benchmarks for efficiency, security, and convenience in the global payments landscape.
This expanded cooperation reinforces both companies’ roles as leaders in digital payments and demonstrates how strategic global-local partnerships can drive innovation, enhance financial inclusion, and accelerate the adoption of modern payment technologies worldwide.
About OpenWay
OpenWay is a leading global provider of digital payment software, serving banks, processors, and fintech companies with solutions for card issuing, acquiring, switching, and wallet services in real time. OpenWay is recognized for its innovation, reliability, and global footprint in the payments industry.
About UnionPay International (UPI)
UnionPay International is one of the world’s largest payment networks, facilitating cross-border payments and card acceptance in over 180 countries and regions. UPI enables secure, cost-effective, and convenient payment solutions for banks, merchants, and consumers worldwide.
