Airwallex CEO Denies Claims That U.S. User Data Is Sent to China

Airwallex CEO and co-founder Jack Zhang has firmly denied claims that U.S. customer data is being sent to China. He responded after a wave of allegations surfaced online. Which accusing the global payments firm of exposing American user data to Chinese authorities. Zhang said the claims are false and driven by competitive motives. He stressed that no U.S. customer data is transferred to China, period. 

According to him, Airwallex follows strict global data rules and operates under regulated security frameworks across multiple countries. He also pointed out that where engineers work is not the same as where customer data lives. “Talent can be global. Data access is not,” Zhang said.

Where Airwallex Says U.S. Data Is Actually Stored

Jack Zhang clarified that Strike stores U.S. customer data only in the United States, the Netherlands and Singapore. He added that staff based in China and Hong Kong do not have access to U.S. customers’ personal data. Airwallex currently holds more than 70 licenses globally and operates under regulation in over 48 U.S. states. The company says its legal and technical systems block any foreign government from gaining unauthorized access to U.S. data.

Zhang also said Airwallex does not respond to foreign intelligence demands for non-local sensitive data. He emphasized that the company follows U.S. federal standards on cross-border data protection. Meanwhile, Airwallex leadership remains spread across the United States, Europe, Singapore and Australia. Jack Zhang added a personal note, saying he lives in London and has no operational role in mainland China.

Investor Accusations Spark Heated Online Clash

Before Jack Zhang’s public denial, a user, Keith Rabois, had made a series of allegations against Airwallex on X. In his claims, Rabois argued that Chinese laws require companies and citizens to cooperate with state intelligence work. He suggested this could make any firm with deep China links a potential data security risk. Rabois alleged that Airwallex’s large engineering presence in mainland China creates unavoidable exposure. He also pointed to Chinese ownership stakes as another risk. In his view, even if data sits on U.S. servers, Chinese law could still force engineers to provide access.

Some of the posts were later deleted. Still, the exchange sparked widespread debate across fintech and crypto circles. Supporters of Airwallex pushed back. Several users questioned the evidence behind the accusations and called them speculative. One Airwallex executive also responded by saying the firm continues to invest in regional data isolation and goes beyond what regulations require.

Privacy Policy Language Adds to the Confusion

The debate intensified after users pointed to Airwallex’s global privacy policy. The document states that they may process customer data in different countries, including China. Critics argued this contradicts Zhang’s public statement. However, Airwallex has not yet clarified whether this general policy language applies to U.S. customers under stricter federal protections. The firm maintains that U.S. customer PII remains restricted to approved regions only.

Currently, no regulator has confirmed any violation. The authorities have announced no official investigation. Still, the clash has placed Airwallex under a national security spotlight. During a sensitive time for cross-border fintech firms. As of now, the company stands by its position. Jack Zhang says the facts will speak louder than online accusations.