Airwallex Plans More Than S$2 Billion Singapore Investment, With Workforce to Exceed 1,000

Singapore expansion targets about 250 additional jobs

Airwallex plans to invest more than S$2 billion in Singapore over five years and expand its local workforce from about 750 employees to more than 1,000, placing product development, engineering and artificial intelligence at the centre of its next phase of growth.

The financial technology company announced the commitment on November 11, 2026, at the opening of its expanded global co-headquarters at Guoco Tower in Tanjong Pagar. Singapore shares the headquarters role with San Francisco and supports the company's expansion across Southeast Asia.

The hiring plan amounts to roughly 250 additional jobs, or an increase of about one third from the current workforce. The target of more than 1,000 refers to the future total number of employees in Singapore.

Airwallex said the money would support hiring, product innovation, technology capabilities and its regional and global operations. Its Singapore business recorded growth of 90 per cent in both revenue and total transaction volume in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

The commitment brings together three developments: a larger operating base, more people building financial products and a push towards software that can carry out financial tasks using AI. For Singapore, the promised jobs extend beyond selling financial services to developing the technology behind them.

Which roles will Airwallex add?

Airwallex currently employs people in Singapore across commercial, corporate, product and engineering functions. It expects to continue recruiting across those areas, with particular attention to AI, product development, engineering, commercial and legal roles.

Arnold Chan, Airwallex's general manager for Asia-Pacific, said the company wants to create jobs requiring specialist skills and give local employees international experience. Employees based in Singapore would contribute to products and operations used across the company's global business.

Chief revenue officer Kai Wu described the planned investment as a commitment to Singapore's place in the company's growth. Speaking at the office opening, he said:

As AI transforms financial services, we believe Singapore has the talent, infrastructure and ambition to play a leading role in this next chapter.

Airwallex has not disclosed an annual breakdown of the investment, a detailed hiring schedule or the revenue, transaction value and customer totals for its Singapore business. The announced timetable covers five years.

Four floors at Guoco Tower

Airwallex's expanded premises include space on Guoco Tower's 35th floor, following its use of the 20th and 33rd floors. Another floor is scheduled for occupancy in early 2027. Once that space is occupied, the company's Singapore footprint is expected to exceed 80,000 square feet across four floors.

The planned footprint is more than 28 times the size of the 2,800 square feet it occupied at Grace Global Raffles Place when it first established a presence in Singapore. Its Guoco Tower office opened in February 2023.

The company's expansion and financing milestones span several years:

• 2015: Airwallex was founded in Melbourne, Australia.
• February 2023: The company opened its Guoco Tower office on the 20th floor.
• December 2025: Airwallex raised US$330 million in Series G funding at a valuation of US$8 billion.
• June 2026: A Series H round raised US$320 million at a valuation of US$11 billion.
• November 11, 2026: Airwallex announced its Singapore investment and workforce targets at the expanded office opening.
• Early 2027: Another Guoco Tower floor is scheduled to become available for occupancy.

Why Singapore has a global role

Singapore serves as an Airwallex regional hub for Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as one of its two global co-headquarters. The investment is intended to strengthen both functions: supporting expansion into nearby markets and developing capabilities used throughout the company.

Chan explained the choice of Singapore by pointing to its workforce, business environment and international connections:

Singapore is central to our global ambitions. Its talent, innovation ecosystem and connectivity make it a natural home for one of our global co-headquarters and a key base for driving our next phase of growth.

Airwallex says it has more than 2,700 employees across 27 offices worldwide and holds more than 85 licences across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Those licences form part of the regulatory framework within which it provides financial services in different markets.

The Singapore hiring plan therefore sits within a much larger international operation. Its focus on engineering, products and AI gives the local office responsibility for building services, alongside its commercial and regional work.

What businesses use the platform for

Airwallex provides financial tools for businesses, including accounts holding multiple currencies, international transfers, online payment acceptance, billing, corporate cards and spending management. These services help companies receive money, pay suppliers and organise their finances across borders.

A business selling abroad may receive customer payments in one currency while paying suppliers in another. Accounts supporting several currencies and international payment services help it manage those different flows of money. Billing and spending tools address other parts of the same task, from collecting payments to tracking company expenses.

Airwallex's Singapore customers are primarily small and medium-sized enterprises, businesses operating mainly online, e-commerce brands, travel companies and professional services firms. Named customers include Far East Flora, Stryv, Circles, Moom Health, ZENXIN Organic, Chronos Agency, Love, Bonito and HipVan.

Chan said even small businesses often operate regionally and globally, creating demand for financial services that work across markets. Airwallex says it serves more than 676,000 businesses worldwide and describes Singapore as one of its fastest growing markets.

Revenue and payment activity grew together

Airwallex's Singapore revenue increased by 90 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the first half of 2025. Total transaction volume also rose by 90 per cent over the same period.

A rise of 90 per cent means each measure reached 1.9 times its level a year earlier. For a simple illustration, a starting value of 100 would become 190. The parallel increases show that both the company's income and the value of payments moving through its Singapore business expanded rapidly.

Revenue is the income Airwallex earns from its services. Transaction volume measures the value of transactions processed through the platform. Keeping the two measures separate helps explain the scale of activity alongside the money the company earns from serving customers.

AI moves from assistance to action

Airwallex's product plans include agentic business accounts, which allow AI agents to manage corporate treasury tasks and move money autonomously. Corporate treasury means managing a company's cash, including where it is held and how it moves to meet payment needs.

An AI assistant can help a person prepare or assess a task. An AI agent is designed to carry out actions within a workflow. In the accounts described by Airwallex, that role extends to financial decisions and money movement.

Chan described the company's vision for that change:

We imagine the future of finance would basically evolve from using AI as a tool or copilot to an entire autonomous and agentic workflow, where AI would drive decisions, help execute and take action as well,

The focus helps explain why AI and engineering feature prominently in the Singapore recruitment plan. Airwallex is seeking people to develop financial workflows in which software takes a more active role in executing tasks for businesses.

Government support centres on skills and innovation

Herman Loh, senior vice-president and co-head for Digital Industry Singapore at the Economic Development Board, said Airwallex's continued investment would anchor more product and AI capabilities in Singapore. The company will work with the board to deepen those capabilities.

Loh said the investment would create jobs connected to developing the next generation of financial services and strengthen Singapore's role as a base for companies expanding across Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development and a Monetary Authority of Singapore board member, pointed to the wider business network supporting companies. He cited access to clients, major companies, legal expertise and professional services.

Tan also referred to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's launch of the Future of Finance Institute in June to scale financial innovation. His message was that Singapore's appeal rests on a business environment built over many years, alongside individual investment commitments.

Funding and other investments provide context

Airwallex's pledge follows two substantial financing rounds. Its US$320 million Series H round in June valued the company at US$11 billion, up from US$8 billion in its US$330 million Series G round in December 2025. That is a valuation increase of US$3 billion, or 37.5 per cent.

Addition led the June round, with participants including T Rowe Price and Amex Ventures, American Express's corporate venture arm. A funding round brings new investment into a company; the valuation is the value assigned to the business in that transaction.

Other financial services companies are also expanding in Singapore. Revolut committed nearly S$350 million over five years and signed a lease for 8,880 square feet at Collyer Quay Centre, with opening scheduled for early 2027.

Visa plans a Solution Centre at Paya Lebar Green bringing together 1,500 employees across technology, product, cybersecurity, engineering and innovation. Alongside Airwallex's plans, these commitments show companies placing both business operations and technical teams in Singapore.

Key Points

• Airwallex plans to invest more than S$2 billion in Singapore over five years.
• Its local workforce is expected to rise from about 750 to more than 1,000, adding roughly 250 jobs.
• Hiring will include AI, product development, engineering, commercial and legal roles.
• Its Guoco Tower footprint is expected to exceed 80,000 square feet after another floor opens in early 2027.
• Singapore revenue and transaction volume each grew 90 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with a year earlier.
• Singapore will continue to serve as a global co-headquarters alongside San Francisco and a base for regional expansion.