TC006431)
70005515351 & 70005529441)
16-09-01929), Hong Kong Monetary Authority Register of SVF Licensees (SVF0009), Securities and Futures Commission Public Register (BUL570), Money Lenders Register (1787/2025), People's Bank of China Payment Licence Register (Z2025844000016), and Hong Kong High Court Judgments (HCAL 3600/2019, HCA 128/2020) for corporate due diligence purposes only.
When corporate treasurers, cross-border merchants, or bank compliance officers conduct counterparty due diligence on Airwallex—valued at US$11 billion (Series H, June 2026) with over US$235 billion in annualized payment volume—two fundamental misconceptions frequently arise: first, assuming Airwallex operates in Hong Kong through a single remittance entity; and second, failing to distinguish which specific Hong Kong legal entity and statutory safeguarding regime governs its multi-currency accounts, Borderless Visa cards, Airwallex Yield liquidity funds, and trade credit facilities.
Through 86hc.com's registered office co-location forensics and consecutive ICRIS barcode analysis at 34/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, we verify that the Airwallex Group operates four active Hong Kong private companies limited by shares at this single floor, holding a comprehensive "Four-Regulator, Four-Licence" statutory compliance matrix[1][2][3][4]:
- Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR No.
2341692, BRN65806699, inc. 23 Feb 2016): APAC regional operating headquarters holding both the Customs Money Service Operator (MSO) Licence (16-09-01929) and the Money Lenders Licence (1787/2025); - UniCard Solution Limited (CR No.
1865769, BRN61018513, inc. 25 Feb 2013, formerlyUNIPAY LIMITED): Wholly acquired (100%) by Airwallex in March 2021 with statutory approval from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, holding the coveted HKMA Stored Value Facility (SVF) Licence (SVF0009); - AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR No.
3321155, BRN75740463, inc. 22 Sep 2023): Licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) for Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) Regulated Activities (CE No.BUL570), operating Airwallex Yield; - Airwallex Financing (Hong Kong) Limited (CR No.
3527428, BRN77824229, inc. 11 Mar 2025): Dedicated working capital, trade finance, and credit facility vehicle incorporated in March 2025.
1. Statutory Registry Profile: The 4-Entity Quarry Bay Cluster & Consecutive ICRIS Barcode Forensics
Institutional due diligence requires verifying underlying records at the Hong Kong Companies Registry (Cap. 622) and the Inland Revenue Department's Business Registration Office (Cap. 310). Using the 86hc.com Commercial Building & Registered Office Intelligence System to audit 34/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, we identify all four active Hong Kong corporate vehicles of the Airwallex Group[1]:
| Statutory English Name & Dossier Link | CR No. | BRN (UBI) | Inc. / M&A Date | HK Statutory Licences | Strategic Role & Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (English Name Only · Live) | 2341692 | 65806699UBI: SH000705260 | 2016-02-23 (Primary HK Hub) | • Customs MSO: 16-09-01929• Money Lender: 1787/2025 | APAC regional HQ, global multi-currency accounts, FX engine, acquiring & Visa Principal Member card issuing. |
| UniCard Solution Limited (Former Name: UNIPAY LIMITED) | 1865769 | 61018513UBI: SH000500967 | 2013-02-25 Inc. Acquired Mar 2021 | • HKMA SVF: SVF0009(Granted 2016-11-04) | Wholly-owned Stored Value Facility (SVF) licensee regulated directly by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). |
| AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (English Name Only · Live) | 3321155 | 75740463 | 2023-09-22 (SFC Licensed Sep 2024) | • SFC Type 4 & Type 9 • CE No.: BUL570 | Licensed asset management subsidiary operating the Airwallex Yield multi-currency money market fund solution. |
| Airwallex Financing (Hong Kong) Limited (English Name Only · Live) | 3527428 | 77824229 | 2025-03-11 (2025 Expansion) | Integrated Group Credit & Facility Vehicle | Dedicated corporate vehicle for B2B trade finance, merchant working capital lines, and structured credit. |
1.1 Forensic Detail 1: Pure English Statutory Registration under Cap. 622 Section 81
Under Section 81 of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), a corporation may be registered solely with an English statutory name. Inspection of the Certificates of Incorporation (CI) and Incorporation Forms (NNC1) confirms that all four Hong Kong entities—Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited, UniCard Solution Limited (incorporated as UNIPAY LIMITED on 25 Feb 2013 and renamed on 12 Jul 2013), AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED, and Airwallex Financing (Hong Kong) Limited—registered only English legal names in Hong Kong without a statutory Chinese name[1]. Consequently, all Hong Kong legal contracts, audit confirmation letters, and court searches must cite their exact English legal names and 7-digit CR numbers.
1.2 Forensic Detail 2: Consecutive ICRIS Filing Barcodes Proving Unified Company Secretarial Governance
Senior forensic investigators verify corporate group integration by auditing the 11-digit ICRIS Document Reference Barcodes assigned sequentially by the Companies Registry upon filing. Cross-examining our database records for Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR 2341692), UniCard Solution Limited (CR 1865769), and AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR 3321155) reveals multiple instances of same-day, consecutive-barcode submissions[1]:
- 3 March 2022 Consecutive Annual Returns (
NAR1):UniCard Solution Limitedfiled its 2022 FormNAR1under Barcode22602276310, and the immediately following sequential barcode22602276311is the 2022 FormNAR1ofAirwallex (Hong Kong) Limited; shortly thereafter (15 Mar 2022 Barcode22902525780and 29 Jun 2022 Barcode22902572085), both entities filed FormNR1to co-locate at 34/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place; - 4 March 2024 Consecutive Annual Returns (
NAR1):UniCard Solution Limitedfiled its 2024 FormNAR1under Barcode22402192582, followed immediately byAirwallex (Hong Kong) Limited's 2024 FormNAR1under Barcode22402192583; - 21 November 2025 Synchronized Board Restructuring (
ND4&ND2A): All three entities simultaneously filed director/secretary resignations (FormND4) and appointments (FormND2A) on the exact same date, with consecutiveND2Abarcodes:24001979748(Airwallex HK),24001979750(Airwallex Capital), and24001979751(UniCard Solution); - 2 January 2026 & 21 April 2026 Sequential Filings: On 2 January 2026,
Airwallex (HK)filed FormNSC1share allotment (23002555648) and FormND2B(23002555649), while the next consecutive barcode (23002555650) isUniCard Solution's FormND2B. On 21 April 2026, all three entities filed synchronizedND2A/ND2Bupdates under consecutive barcodes22002018223(UniCard),22002018224&22002018225(Airwallex Capital), and22002018227(Airwallex HK).
2. Global Ownership Architecture, Dual HK-Mainland M&A & US$11 Billion Valuation Trajectory
Airwallex was founded in late 2015 in Melbourne, Australia, after co-founders Jack Zhang (CEO) and Lucy Liu (President) experienced punitive bank FX spreads and SWIFT wire fees while importing coffee supplies from Hong Kong and Mainland China for their Melbourne specialty café (Tukk & Co.). Joining forces with University of Melbourne alumni Xijing Jacob Dai (CTO) and Max Li, the team launched Airwallex and incorporated Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited on 23 February 2016 as its first Asian operational hub[1][9].
2.1 Cross-Border Ownership & the "HK SVF0009 + Mainland PBOC Payment Licence" M&A Architecture
To establish an end-to-end compliant payment corridor across Greater China, Airwallex executed two landmark 100% regulatory acquisitions between 2021 and 2024[3][6]:
| Corporate Tier & Jurisdiction | Entity Name & Registration No. | Key M&A / Licence No. | Strategic Governance & Operational Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top-Tier Global Holding Parent (Cayman Islands / Singapore & SF Dual HQ) | Airwallex (Cayman) Limited & Group Holding Vehicles | Over US$1.5B+ raised; US$11 Billion Series H valuation (Jun 2026) | Global capital raising and equity holding vehicle overseeing 60+ licences across 20+ jurisdictions. |
| HK APAC Payment & Credit Hub (Hong Kong · 34/F Oxford House) | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR: 2341692)Airwallex Financing (HK) Ltd (CR: 3527428) | Customs MSO: 16-09-01929Money Lender: 1787/2025 | APAC multi-currency virtual accounts, programmatic FX, Visa Principal Member card issuing, and B2B credit. |
| HKMA SVF Licensed Subsidiary (Hong Kong · 34/F Oxford House) | UniCard Solution Limited (CR: 1865769 · BRN: 61018513) | 100% Acquired Mar 2021 HKMA Licence: SVF0009 | HKMA-regulated Stored Value Facility (SVF) entity; completed fresh Form NSC1 capital allotment on 2026-07-24 (Barcode: 24002190786). |
| SFC Licensed Asset Management Arm (Hong Kong · 34/F Oxford House) | AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR: 3321155 · BRN: 75740463) | Licensed 2 Sep 2024 SFC CE No.: BUL570 | Holds SFC Type 4 & Type 9 licences; capitalized via consecutive Form NSC1 allotments (Dec 2024 & Jun 2025) to operate Airwallex Yield. |
| Mainland China PBOC Licensed Entity (Mainland China · Guangzhou / Shanghai) | Cloud Payment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (Formerly Guangzhou Shangwutong Network Technology Co., Ltd., 100% held via Hunan Huangxing E-Commerce) | 100% Acquired Mar 2023 PBOC Payment Licence: Z2025844000016 | Authorized by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) for Class I Stored Value Account Operation (Internet Payment), making Airwallex one of the very few foreign-backed FinTechs with a direct Mainland payment licence. |
2.2 2016–2026 Global Funding Rounds & Capital Injections into Hong Kong Subsidiaries
Each global financing milestone of Airwallex has been mirrored by direct statutory capital injections (Form NSC1 Return of Allotment of Shares) into its Hong Kong subsidiaries[1][9]:
| Funding Round & Date | Amount & Post-Money Valuation | Lead & Key Institutional Investors | Corresponding HK Statutory Filings & Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series A / A+ (Jul 2016 – 2017) | US$19 Million | Tencent, Sequoia China (HSG), Mastercard | Incorporated Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR 2341692) on 2016-02-23; obtained Customs MSO Licence 16-09-01929 in Sep 2016. |
| Series B (May 2018) | US$80 Million | Tencent, Sequoia China, Horizons Ventures (Li Ka-shing), Hillhouse, Square Peg | Launched multi-currency virtual collection accounts across APAC and Europe. |
| Series C (Mar 2019) | US$100 Million Valuation: US$1.0B+ | DST Global (Lead), Sequoia China, Tencent, Horizons Ventures | Achieved global FinTech Unicorn status within 3 years of founding. |
| Series D / D+ (Apr – Sep 2020) | US$200 Million Valuation: US$2.6 Billion | Salesforce Ventures, ANZ, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund | HKMA approved acquisition of UniCard Solution Limited (SVF0009) in Mar 2021; filed HK Form NSC1 capital allotment on 2021-04-01 (Barcode: 22101639838). |
| Series E / E1 / E2 (Sep 2021 – Oct 2022) | US$400 Million Valuation: US$5.5B–5.6B | Lone Pine Capital (Lead), 1835i, Sequoia, Tencent | Filed HK Form NSC1 share allotment (22902572084) and Form NR1 relocation to 34/F Oxford House (22902572085) on 2022-06-29. |
| Series F (May 2025) | US$300 Million Valuation: US$6.2 Billion | Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine, Visa Ventures, Salesforce Ventures | Global annualized volume surpassed US$130B and ARR crossed US$1.0B in late 2025; incorporated Airwallex Financing (HK) Ltd (CR 3527428). |
| Series G & Series H (Dec 2025 – Jun 2026) | Series G: US$330M ($8B val.) Series H: US$320M (US$11.0B val.) | Led consecutively by Addition (Lee Fixel), joined by T. Rowe Price, Robinhood Ventures | Annualized volume exceeded US$235B+ with US$1.3B+ ARR across 200,000+ enterprises; filed 2026 Form NSC1 share allotments for Airwallex (HK) (23002555648) and UniCard Solution (24002190786). |
3. Quadruple Hong Kong Regulatory Matrix & Global 7-Jurisdiction Licence Verification
In institutional compliance, every regulated activity in Hong Kong maps to a specific statutory ordinance, licensing authority, corporate entity, licence number, and SFC Responsible Officer (RO)[2][3][4][5]:
| HK Statutory Licence & No. | Licensed Entity & CR No. | Regulator & Ordinance | Permitted Scope, Responsible Officers (ROs) & Compliance Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money Service Operator (MSO) Licence No.: 16-09-01929 | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR No. 2341692) | Customs and Excise Department AMLO (Cap. 615) | Authorized for cross-border remittance, international wire settlement, local FPS/CHATS clearing, and multi-currency foreign exchange. Subject to strict CDD, record-keeping, and JFIU STR reporting. |
| Stored Value Facility (SVF) Licence No.: SVF0009 | UniCard Solution Limited (CR No. 1865769) | Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) PSSVFO (Cap. 584) | Granted on 4 Nov 2016 and acquired 100% by Airwallex in Mar 2021 with HKMA approval. Requires minimum paid-up share capital of HK$25 million and 100% float safeguarding segregated from corporate funds. |
| SFC Type 4 & Type 9 Licence CE No.: BUL570 | AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR No. 3321155) | Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) SFO (Cap. 571) | Licensed on 2 September 2024 for Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management). SFC-approved Responsible Officers (ROs): Lee, Colin Kwan Lun (SFC ID: BGC215) and Lee, Kei Shun (SFC ID: AFD221). Powers Airwallex Yield. |
| Money Lenders Licence Licence No.: 1787/2025 | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited with Airwallex Financing (HK) | Companies Registry, HK Police & Licensing Court Money Lenders Ordinance (Cap. 163) | Authorized to grant commercial loans, corporate credit lines, and working capital facilities in Hong Kong subject to statutory interest rate caps under Cap. 163. |
3.1 Global Counterparty Verification: Official Licence Numbers Across 7 Core Jurisdictions
When a Hong Kong company opens local collection accounts in EUR, GBP, USD, AUD, SGD, or CNY through Airwallex, the underlying virtual IBANs are supported by Airwallex's licensed entities across seven primary regulatory regimes[6]:
| Jurisdiction | Local Licensed Subsidiary | Statutory Regulator | Licence Category & Official Registration No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong (HK) | Airwallex (Hong Kong) LimitedUniCard Solution LimitedAIRWALLEX CAPITAL HK LIMITED | HK Customs / HKMA / SFC / Licensing Court | MSO: 16-09-01929 | SVF: SVF0009 | SFC Type 4/9: BUL570 | Money Lender: 1787/2025 |
| Mainland China (CN) | Cloud Payment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. | People's Bank of China (PBOC) & SAFE | Payment Business Licence No.: Z2025844000016 (Class I Stored Value Account / Internet Payment) |
| United Kingdom (UK) | Airwallex (UK) Limited | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Authorized Electronic Money Institution (EMI), FRN: 900876 |
| Australia (AU) | Airwallex Pty Ltd (ACN: 609 653 312)Airwallex Capital Pty Ltd | ASIC & AUSTRAC | Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) Nos.: 487221 & 549026 |
| Singapore (SG) | Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Airwallex Capital (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Major Payment Institution (MPI) Licence No.: PS20200541 & CMS Licence |
| European Union (EEA) | Airwallex (Netherlands) B.V. | De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) | EU Electronic Money Institution (EMI) Licence with EEA 30-country passporting |
| United States (US) | Airwallex US, LLC | FinCEN & State Banking Departments | Federal MSB Registration & Money Transmitter Licences (MTLs) across 45+ US states |
4. Client Fund Safeguarding Architecture: Why DPS Does Not Apply & How Segregated Accounts Work
Effective 1 October 2024, the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board raised the statutory protection limit under the Deposit Protection Scheme Ordinance (Cap. 581) from HK$500,000 to HK$800,000 per depositor per Scheme member bank. However, under Hong Kong law, the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) applies exclusively to Authorized Institutions (licensed banks under the Banking Ordinance, Cap. 155)[5].
Because Airwallex's Hong Kong entities are regulated as an MSO, SVF, and SFC licensed corporation rather than a Cap. 155 licensed bank, balances held with Airwallex are not legally classified as "bank deposits" and are not covered by the HK$800,000 DPS. Instead, client assets are protected through three statutory safeguarding mechanisms:
| Product Line | Contracting HK Entity | Physical Custody of Underlying Assets | Statutory Ring-Fencing & Insolvency Protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Multi-Currency Wallet (Collection & FX Balances) | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited(MSO: 16-09-01929) | Held in Segregated Client Accounts at Tier-1 clearing banks including Standard Chartered Bank (HK), DBS Bank (HK), and JPMorgan Chase | Strictly ring-fenced from Airwallex's own operating cash and liabilities; client funds cannot be lent out or used for corporate overhead. |
| 2. Stored Value & Card Float (SVF Safeguarding) | UniCard Solution Limited(HKMA: SVF0009) | Dedicated trust/custodian accounts at licensed banks supervised under HKMA SVF Guidelines | 100% float safeguarding mandated under Cap. 584, subject to independent external auditor attestation to the HKMA. |
| 3. Airwallex Yield (HKD / USD Treasury Yield) | AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED(SFC: BUL570) | Invested in institutional Money Market Funds managed by top-tier managers (e.g., Goldman Sachs Asset Management / Morgan Stanley) | Protected under SFC Client Money Rules (Cap. 571I) and Client Securities Rules (Cap. 571H); fund units are held by independent third-party custodian banks off Airwallex's balance sheet. |
| [Benchmark] Traditional HK Licensed Banks (e.g. HSBC HK / OCBC HK) | Cap. 155 Licensed Bank (HKMA Authorized Institution) | On-balance-sheet statutory bank deposits | Directly protected by the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS) up to HK$800,000 and Basel III capital adequacy rules. |
5. 2016–2026 ICRIS Statutory Filing Ledger & 2022 Form M1 Charge Forensics
While Hong Kong private companies limited by shares are exempt from filing public audited financial statements under Cap. 622, every share allotment (Form NSC1), mortgage or charge (Form M1), director change (Forms ND2A/ND2B/ND4), and Annual Return (Form NAR1) is permanently recorded on the public register.
5.1 Why Did Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited File a 34-Page Form M1 Charge on 7 March 2022?
Forensic review of Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR 2341692) reveals a trio of charge filings dated 7 March 2022: Form M1 (Statement of Particulars of Charge, Barcode: 23601648601, 2 pages), the accompanying 34-page Certified Charge Instrument (Barcode: 23601648602), and the official Certificate of Registration of Charge (Barcode: 40018996609)[1]. In global card-issuing (Visa/Mastercard Principal Membership) and institutional FX clearing, payment institutions routinely pledge dedicated settlement reserve deposits or clearing receivables in favour of clearing banks or card schemes as credit-enhancement collateral, registering the security under Section 335 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).
5.2 Master Table of 20+ Verified ICRIS Filing Barcodes Across All 4 Hong Kong Entities
| Filing Date | HK Entity & CR No. | Form Code | Official Statutory Document Title & Forensic Significance | ICRIS Barcode | Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-02 | UniCard SolutionCR: 1865769 (SVF0009) | ND2B | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director Details (Form ND2B) Latest September 2026 officer particulars update for SVF0009 licensee | 24002219822 | 3p · View |
| 2026-07-24 | UniCard SolutionCR: 1865769 (SVF0009) | NSC1 | Return of Allotment of Shares (Form NSC1) July 2026 paid-up share capital expansion for SVF subsidiary | 24002190786 | 4p · View |
| 2026-07-02 | Airwallex CapitalCR: 3321155 (BUL570) | ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) Mid-2026 board/secretary appointment update for SFC asset management arm | 24002169475 | 3p · View |
| 2026-06-30 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | ND2B | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director Details (Form ND2B) | 24002167602 | 3p · View |
| 2026-05-19 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | ND2A | Notice of Change of Company Secretary and Director (Form ND2A) | 22002039471 | 3p · View |
| 2026-04-21 | 3 Entities Synchronized1865769 / 3321155 / 2341692 | ND2A/B | Same-Day Consecutive-Barcode Officer Updates Across 3 Entities UniCard ( 22002018223) · Capital (22002018224/225) · HK (22002018227) | 22002018227 | 3p · View |
| 2026-03-17 | UniCard SolutionCR: 1865769 (SVF0009) | NAR1 | 2026 Annual Return (Form NAR1) Full 2026 shareholder, share capital, and director register of SVF0009 entity | 70005529441 | 12p · View |
| 2026-03-13 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | NAR1 | 2026 Annual Return (Form NAR1) Latest 2026 statutory return of primary Hong Kong operating entity | 70005515351 | 11p · View |
| 2026-01-02 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | NSC1 | Return of Allotment of Shares (Form NSC1 · New Year Capital Injection) Filed with consecutive ND2B barcodes 23002555649 (HK) & 23002555650 (UniCard) | 23002555648 | 4p · View |
| 2025-11-21 | 3 Entities Synchronized2341692 / 3321155 / 1865769 | ND4/ND2A | Simultaneous Director/Secretary Resignations (ND4) & Appointments (ND2A) Consecutive ND2A: 24001979748 (HK) · 24001979750 (Capital) · 24001979751 (UniCard) | 24001979748 | 3p · View |
| 2025-09-26 | Airwallex CapitalCR: 3321155 (BUL570) | NAR1 | 2025 Annual Return (Form NAR1) | 22602704253 | 10p · View |
| 2025-06-27 | Airwallex CapitalCR: 3321155 (BUL570) | NSC1 | Return of Allotment of Shares (Form NSC1) Follow-on capital injection after 2024-12-19 NSC1 (22202861483) for SFC FRR compliance | 22001830609 | 4p · View |
| 2025-03-11 | Airwallex FinancingCR: 3527428 | NNC1/CI | Incorporation Form (NNC1), Articles (22302483399) & Certificate of Inc. (40023717416) | 22302483398 | 9p · View |
| 2024-03-04 | Airwallex (HK) & UniCard2341692 & 1865769 | NAR1 | 2024 Annual Returns Filed Consecutively on Same Day UniCard: 22402192582 (13p) | Airwallex (HK): 22402192583 (11p) | 22402192583 | 11p · View |
| 2023-09-22 | Airwallex CapitalCR: 3321155 (BUL570) | NNC1/CI | Incorporation Form (NNC1), Articles (23402131115) & Certificate of Inc. (40021022415) | 23402131114 | 7p · View |
| 2022-06-29 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | NR1/NSC1 | Notice of Change of Registered Office Address (NR1) & Share Allotment (22902572084)Relocation to 34/F Oxford House following UniCard's 2022-03-15 NR1 (22902525780) | 22902572085 | 1p · View |
| 2022-03-07 | Airwallex (HK)CR: 2341692 (MSO) | M1 | Particulars of Mortgage or Charge (Form M1), 34p Instrument (23601648602) & Cert (40018996609) | 23601648601 | 2p · View |
| 2021-06-24 | UniCard SolutionCR: 1865769 (SVF0009) | ND2A | Post-Acquisition Board Restructuring (Form ND2A, with 2021-06-25 22902427161) | 24001156240 | 3p · View |
6. Hong Kong High Court Jurisprudence: From the "Letter of No Consent" Constitutional Challenge (HCAL 3600/2019) to Conduit Defence (HCA 128/2020)
Search records on the 86hc.com Hong Kong Judiciary Litigation & Winding-Up Intelligence System confirm that all four Airwallex Hong Kong entities maintain zero winding-up petitions and zero insolvency judgments. Furthermore, two landmark 2019–2020 High Court proceedings involving Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited—Constitutional and Administrative Law Proceedings HCAL 3600/2019 and High Court Action HCA 128/2020—stand as foundational Hong Kong common law precedents on payment intermediary AML controls[7][8]:
Background (2019): US$18.2 Million External Trade Fraud Remitted Through Two Trading Accounts
In late 2019, a Uruguayan enterprise, Ciklus S.A., fell victim to an external business email compromise fraud and remitted approximately US$18.2 million (~HK$142.5 million) to two Hong Kong trading companies (Rong Tong Sihai Import & Export and Hong Kong Zhongliang Trading) that held collection accounts with Airwallex. Following suspicious transaction alerts, the Hong Kong Police Force issued administrative "Letters of No Consent" (LNCs) under Section 25A of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO, Cap. 455), freezing approximately US$18 million across associated bank accounts[7].
Landmark Constitutional Review (HCAL 3600/2019): Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited v. Commissioner of Police
Rather than passively accepting an indefinite administrative freeze without a court-ordered Restraint Order, Airwallex—acting as a bona fide licensed MSO that had complied with statutory KYC protocols—filed a pioneering application for judicial review in the Court of First Instance (HCAL 3600/2019, alongside HCMP 1805/2019). Airwallex challenged the constitutionality of the Police's practice of using Section 25A LNCs as an informal, indefinite asset-freezing mechanism under Articles 6 and 105 of the Hong Kong Basic Law (protection of private property rights). This constitutional challenge paved the way for Hong Kong's modern jurisprudence on LNCs (culminating later in the Court of Final Appeal's decision in Tam Sze Leung[2024] HKCFA 8), and the frozen funds were ultimately released after police cleared Airwallex of any wrongdoing[7].
Commercial Conduit Defence (HCA 128/2020): Ciklus S.A. v. Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited
In parallel, Ciklus S.A. commenced civil proceedings (HCA 128/2020) seeking restitutionary remedies based on unjust enrichment and constructive trust against the payment corridor. Airwallex defended its position under common law "mere conduit / ministerial agent" principles and Cap. 615 CDD compliance, demonstrating that a licensed payment intermediary executing instructions in good faith without knowledge of external trade fraud is not an unjust enrichment beneficiary[8].
7. CFO Treasury Architecture: Dual-Track Banking & Hong Kong CPA Statutory Audit (Cap. 622 s.405) Guide
Under Section 405 of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), every Hong Kong incorporated company must undergo an annual statutory audit by a Certified Public Accountant (Practising) regulated by the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC). For corporate treasurers utilizing both traditional banks and Airwallex, we recommend the following institutional framework:
7.1 Optimal Dual-Track Corporate Treasury Architecture
- Track 1 (Primary Balance Sheet & DPS Reserve — Traditional Licensed Banks): Maintain 1–2 primary accounts with HKMA-licensed commercial banks (such as HSBC Hong Kong, OCBC Bank Hong Kong, Standard Chartered, or BOC Hong Kong) for core retained earnings (eligible for HK$800,000 DPS protection), documentary Letters of Credit (L/C), tax payments to the IRD, and shareholder dividend distributions;
- Track 2 (High-Velocity Multi-Currency Clearing & Card Spend — Airwallex): Deploy Airwallex for cross-border e-commerce marketplace collections (Amazon, Shopify, Stripe), programmatic FX conversion, global supplier batch payouts, and SaaS/advertising spend via Borderless Visa cards, sweeping excess liquidity periodically to the primary commercial bank account.
7.2 HKFRS Accounting Classification & CPA Audit Confirmation Matrix
| Airwallex Statement Module | Contracting & Issuing HK Entity | Recommended HKFRS Balance Sheet Classification | CPA Audit Confirmation & Evidentiary Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Currency Wallet Balances | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited(CR: 2341692 · MSO: 16-09-01929) | Cash and cash equivalents — Balances held with payment institutions | Export monthly/year-end multi-currency Account Statements, official Balance Confirmation Letter, and underlying clearing bank routing records. |
| Airwallex Yield Holdings | AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED(CR: 3321155 · SFC: BUL570) | Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) (Money Market Fund units) | Obtain separate investment portfolio statements, subscription/redemption confirmations, and year-end NAV schedules issued by AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HK LIMITED. |
| Working Capital & Credit Lines | Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (1787/2025) or Airwallex Financing (HK) Ltd (CR: 3527428) | Current liabilities — Short-term borrowings / Trade finance payables | Verify Facility Agreement, year-end principal/interest balance confirmation, and check ICRIS for any registered Form M1 charges. |
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Airwallex Hong Kong Corporate Background & Licences
Q1: How many Hong Kong companies does Airwallex operate, and what are their CR and BRN numbers?
Airwallex operates four active private companies limited by shares co-located at 34/F, Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 979 King's Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong: (1) Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR: 2341692, BRN: 65806699, inc. 2016-02-23); (2) UniCard Solution Limited (CR: 1865769, BRN: 61018513, inc. 2013-02-25, acquired 100% in March 2021); (3) AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR: 3321155, BRN: 75740463, inc. 2023-09-22); and (4) Airwallex Financing (Hong Kong) Limited (CR: 3527428, BRN: 77824229, inc. 2025-03-11).
Q2: Does Airwallex hold an HKMA Stored Value Facility (SVF) licence in Hong Kong?
Yes, at the group level. While Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited holds the Customs Money Service Operator (MSO) licence (16-09-01929) and Money Lenders licence (1787/2025), Airwallex completed the 100% acquisition of UniCard Solution Limited (CR: 1865769) in March 2021 with HKMA approval, which holds HKMA Stored Value Facility Licence No. SVF0009 under Cap. 584.
Q3: Does Airwallex hold a direct central bank (PBOC) payment licence in Mainland China?
Yes. In March 2023, Airwallex completed the 100% acquisition of Guangzhou Shangwutong Network Technology Co., Ltd. (renamed Cloud Payment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. in January 2024), which holds People's Bank of China (PBOC) Payment Business Licence No. Z2025844000016 for Class I Stored Value Account Operation (Internet Payment).
Q4: Are Airwallex Hong Kong wallet balances covered by the HK$800,000 Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS)?
No. The Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme (HK$800,000 limit effective October 2024) applies solely to licensed banks under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155). Instead, Airwallex safeguards client wallet balances in 100% Segregated Client Accounts at Tier-1 clearing banks (such as Standard Chartered Bank HK, DBS Bank HK, and JPMorgan Chase), while Airwallex Yield funds are managed by SFC-licensed AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CE No. BUL570, ROs: Lee, Colin Kwan Lun BGC215 and Lee, Kei Shun AFD221) in regulated money market funds held by independent custodians.
Q5: How can I retrieve the 2026 Form NAR1 Annual Return and Form NSC1 Share Allotment originals for Airwallex's Hong Kong entities?
You can order official ICRIS barcoded PDF filings directly on 86hc.com: including Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited's 2026 Form NAR1 (filed 2026-03-13, Barcode: 70005515351) and Form NSC1 (filed 2026-01-02, Barcode: 23002555648); UniCard Solution Limited's 2026 Form NAR1 (filed 2026-03-17, Barcode: 70005529441) and Form NSC1 (filed 2026-07-24, Barcode: 24002190786); and AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED's Form NAR1 (22602704253) and Form NSC1 (22001830609).
9. Official Regulatory Registers, Statutory Filings & Judicial Citations
- Hong Kong Companies Registry Integrated Companies Registry Information System (ICRIS): Statutory registers and 2013–2026 filing ledgers for (1) Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (CR No.
2341692, 2026NAR1Barcode70005515351, 2026NSC1Barcode23002555648, 2022 FormM1Charge Barcode23601648601); (2) UniCard Solution Limited (CR No.1865769, 2026NAR1Barcode70005529441, 2026NSC1Barcode24002190786); (3) AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED (CR No.3321155, 2025NAR1Barcode22602704253); and (4) Airwallex Financing (Hong Kong) Limited (CR No.3527428, 2025NNC1Barcode22302483398). Official portal: www.e-services.cr.gov.hk ↗. - Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (Money Service Supervision Bureau): Register of Money Service Operators under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) —
Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited, Licence No.:16-09-01929. Official portal: HK Customs MSO Register ↗. - Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA): Register of Stored Value Facility (SVF) Licensees under the Payment Systems and Stored Value Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 584) —
UniCard Solution Limited(wholly acquired by Airwallex in March 2021), SVF Licence No.:SVF0009. Official portal: HKMA Register of SVF Licensees ↗. - Securities and Futures Commission (SFC): Public Register of Licensed Persons and Registered Institutions under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) —
AIRWALLEX CAPITAL HONG KONG LIMITED, Central Entity No.:BUL570(Licensed 2 Sep 2024 for Type 4 & Type 9 Regulated Activities; Responsible Officers:Lee, Colin Kwan Lun BGC215,Lee, Kei Shun AFD221). Official portal: SFC Public Register (BUL570) ↗. - Companies Registry Money Lenders Unit & Hong Kong Deposit Protection Board: Money Lenders Licence under Cap. 163 (
Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited, Licence No.:1787/2025) and statutory scope of the HK$800,000 Deposit Protection Scheme under Cap. 581. - People's Bank of China (PBOC) & Global Financial Regulators: PBOC Register of Licensed Non-Bank Payment Institutions — Cloud Payment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. (Licence No.:
Z2025844000016); UK FCA Register (Airwallex (UK) Limited, FRN:900876); Australian ASIC Register (Airwallex Pty Ltd, AFSL:487221); MAS Financial Institutions Directory (Airwallex (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., MPI Licence:PS20200541). - High Court of the Hong Kong SAR (Court of First Instance Constitutional and Administrative Law List):Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited v. Commissioner of Police (
HCAL 3600/2019&HCMP 1805/2019, judicial review concerning Section 25A "Letters of No Consent" under OSCO Cap. 455). Judiciary Legal Reference System: legalref.judiciary.hk ↗. - High Court of the Hong Kong SAR (Court of First Instance Action):Ciklus S.A. v. Airwallex (Hong Kong) Limited (
HCA 128/2020) and 86hc.com Hong Kong Court Litigation & Winding-Up Search System. - Airwallex Corporate Disclosures: Series A–Series H Financing Announcements (2016–2026, US$11B valuation), HKMA Approval of UniCard Solution Limited Acquisition (March 2021), and 100% Acquisition of Guangzhou Shangwutong Payment Business Licence (March 2023).