The origins of TNG Digital

TNG Digital (TNGD) is a Malaysian fintech company established as a joint venture between Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd and Ant International. Its core product, TNG eWallet, originated from a strategic effort to broaden access to digital financial services in Malaysia.

Touch ’n Go has long been associated with transport payments, such as tolls and public transit. TNG eWallet was introduced as a digital extension of this and driven by the collaborative efforts of Touch ’n Go and Ant International. Initially developed to enhance toll payment convenience, TNG eWallet quickly gained traction and has since evolved into a full-fledged super app, offering diverse digital lifestyle services. From e-commerce and food delivery to financial solutions and bill payments, TNG eWallet is now an integral part of daily life for millions of Malaysians.

How the system evolved from siloed to platform-based

In its early stages, TNG eWallet was built on a legacy system with a siloed, “vertical chimney” architecture — meaning each new business line (e.g. transport payments) required its own standalone module. While this enabled rapid initial deployment, it eventually led to duplicated efforts, fragmented systems, and high maintenance costs as the business scaled.

To address these challenges, TNGD initiated three-step system upgrades starting in 2017:

Step 1 (Early 2017): Dual-core architecture

A dual-core architecture was implemented by integrating the new Alipay+ wallet system into the legacy infrastructure, enabling seamless deployment of new features without disrupting existing services. By leveraging legacy business APIs, TNG eWallet rapidly introduced key features such as transit QR codes, face-to-face payments, and cashback rewards — fulfilling critical transport payment demands.
Step 2 (Late 2017): Architecture modernisation

The legacy system underwent a “ledgerisation” transformation, where monolithic business APIs were decomposed into flexible, atomic APIs. A sharded, partitioned database architecture was deployed, boosting performance significantly — transaction throughput surged by over 20 times¹ compared to the original 50 transactions per second (TPS).
Step 3 (Late 2018): System migration

The migration encompassed core modules, such as user transaction history, merchant settlement, and payment ledgering, which was completed with zero downtime. System performance improved significantly, with response times halved, and new core ledger API achieved 1,000 TPS², laying a solid foundation for future growth.

From payment tool to super app:
Building a diverse digital ecosystem

With enhanced system capabilities, TNG eWallet has transformed from a payment tool into a super app, seamlessly integrating payments, financial services, and lifestyle features. This transformation is driven by three key pillars:

Comprehensive payment capabilities as a user traffic hub

Leveraging Alipay+’s world-leading e-wallet product and operational expertise, TNG eWallet expanded into both online and offline payments across key verticals, including e-commerce, food delivery, convenience stores, and pharmacies. Cutting-edge technologies such as e-KYC, robust risk management, and high-concurrency support ensure secure, efficient transactions during peak transaction volumes, e.g. promotional seasons. This platform strikes a critical balance: delivering frictionless user experience, while safeguarding every e-wallet account from unauthorised activities.

Paving the way for financial inclusion

In March 2021, TNG eWallet launched GO+, Malaysia’s first e-wallet Money Market Fund, offering a digital-first alternative to conventional saving accounts. With a lower barrier to entry — just RM10 (approx. USD 2.35)³ — GO+ empowers users to earn daily returns on their e-wallet balance while maintaining instant liquidity and seamless access. It bridges the gap between spending and investing, combining the convenience of an everyday e-wallet with the benefits of financial growth.

By November 2024, GO+ had nearly 4 million users⁴, becoming Malaysia’s largest money market fund platform. Its Assets Under Management (AUM) surged 65% year-on-year, underscoring strong adoption and deepening user trust. Capitalising on this success, TNG Digital expanded into credit scoring and InsurTech, significantly democratising access to financial tools and protection particularly for the underserved and emerging segments — cementing its leadership in inclusive digital finance.

Domestic and cross-border ecosystem enhancement

Through mini-programs, TNG Digital empowers SMEs to digitise their operations while expanding service offerings across verticals like catering, mobility, and entertainment. This further strengthens its position as the gateway and cornerstone of digital transformation across Malaysia. Additionally, with Alipay+ cross-border solutions, TNG eWallet users can make seamless global transactions while enabling foreign visitors to transact in Malaysia, benefitting local merchants.

Current achievements and future outlook

Today, TNG eWallet remains Malaysia’s leading digital financial and everyday app, connecting over 23 million verified users and more than 2 million merchants⁵, with at least 6 million users subscribing to one or more of TNG eWallet’s financial products. Looking ahead, TNG Digital will continue to advance financial inclusion, foster technological innovation, and strengthen its position as the trusted platform at the heart of Malaysia’s digital economy.

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