the questionWho controls the Airwallex companies registered in the United Kingdom, and what changed in 2026?
1Airwallex (UK) Limited
analysisAirwallex (UK) Limited (company number 10103420) is an authorised electronic money institution under FCA reference number 900876, with that status from 26 November 2018, and it holds permission to provide e-money and payment services into Gibraltar. The FCA list also contains a second entry, 900824, under the same name with the status "Cancelled - Authorised EMI", without a date or reason. Companies House lists Jack Zhang as the company's only person with significant control, notified on 6 April 2016, through "significant influence or control"; that category is distinct from holding shares, the register shows no corporate owner and it does not show who holds the company's shares. Zhang was a director from 5 April 2016 until 19 January 2026. The current directors are Kai Wu (since 16 January 2024), Pranav Kumar Sood (since 25 August 2026) and Paul Gerard Christensen (since 1 October 2026). 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
sources in this section
- FCA register: list of e-money firms (CSV) Financial Conduct Authority · 16 Oct 2026
- Company statement source · src-011 identified by category only · Company statement
- Gibraltar FSC register: Airwallex (UK) Limited Gibraltar Financial Services Commission · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX (UK) LIMITED (10103420), officers Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX (UK) LIMITED (10103420), persons with significant control Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: officer appointments of Jack Zhang Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: officer appointments of Kai Wu Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
2Companies recorded in 2026
- Jack Zhang to Airwallex Global LimitedSole subscriber of its one £1 share at incorporation; person with significant control holding 75% or more of shares and votesdocumented · From 25 August 2026 · current at the evidence cutoff
- Airwallex Global Limited to AWX US Investment Holding (UK) LimitedRelevant legal entity with significant control: 75% or more of shares and votesdocumented · From 15 September 2026 · current at the evidence cutoff
analysisCompanies House lists Zhang as the only person with significant control of Airwallex Treasury (UK) Limited (company number 17262855), notified on 5 June 2026, again through significant influence or control; Kai Wu and Yueting (Lucy) Liu have been its directors since 5 June 2026. On 25 August 2026 Airwallex Group (UK) Limited (company number 17419456) was incorporated in England and Wales as a private company limited by shares, with its registered office at 45 Mortimer Street, London, and SIC code 64205, activities of financial services holding companies. Zhang was its sole subscriber, holding its one ordinary share of £1, and he and Yueting Liu were its first directors; Companies House records him as holding 75 per cent or more of its shares and voting rights and the right to appoint or remove directors. Xijing Dai, a co-founder, became a director on 10 September 2026, his only UK appointment. Liu's directorship ended on 3 October 2026, when a resolution changed the company's name to Airwallex Global Limited, and new articles of association were filed on 15 October 2026. The filings do not explain the company's purpose or show any shareholding by Airwallex (Cayman) Limited or Airwallex Pty Ltd. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
analysisAirwallex Group (UK) Limited is in turn recorded as the relevant legal entity with significant control of AWX US Investment Holding (UK) Limited (company number 17460169), notified on 15 September 2026, owning 75 per cent or more of its shares and voting rights with the right to appoint or remove directors. Its three directors, all appointed that day, are Yueting Liu, Pranav Kumar Sood and Jack Zhang. The register does not use the name Lucy: the identity of Yueting Liu with the co-founder Lucy (Yueting) Liu rests on the Brazilian central bank notice that names her Lucy Yueting Liu and on the matching group roles and London address, where all three of her UK appointments are registered. 9 10 3
sources in this section
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX TREASURY (UK) LIMITED (17262855), persons with significant control Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: officer appointments of Kai Wu Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: officer appointments of Yueting Liu Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: certificate of incorporation and form IN01 of AIRWALLEX GROUP (UK) LIMITED (17419456) Companies House · 25 Aug 2026
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX GLOBAL LIMITED (17419456), persons with significant control Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: officer appointments of Xijing Dai Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX GLOBAL LIMITED (17419456), filing history Companies House · 15 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AIRWALLEX GLOBAL LIMITED (17419456), officers Companies House · 3 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AWX US INVESTMENT HOLDING (UK) LIMITED (17460169), persons with significant control Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
- Companies House: AWX US INVESTMENT HOLDING (UK) LIMITED (17460169), officers Companies House · 17 Oct 2026
timeline · 2018–2026
- Airwallex (UK) Limited authorised as an electronic money institution
- Airwallex Group (UK) Limited incorporated with Jack Zhang as sole subscriber
- AWX US Investment Holding (UK) Limited recorded under the control of Airwallex Group (UK) Limited
- Airwallex Group (UK) Limited resolves to change its name to Airwallex Global Limited