In this episode, we talk with Airwallex cofounder and CEO Jack Zhang about building a global financial infrastructure company by taking the long, unglamorous path. Rather than layering on top of existing banking systems, Airwallex spent a decade acquiring licenses, integrating with local payment rails, and constructing its own end-to-end network for moving money across borders. Jack shares why he turned down a $1.2 billion acquisition offer from Stripe early on, how that decision shaped the company’s trajectory, and why he believes this hard-won infrastructure is becoming a major advantage in the age of AI.

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