First Data and Verifone each announced separate deals this past week to bring the Alipay mobile-payment system to U.S. merchants. 

Merchants that use First Data's Clover Mini POS system will be able to accept Alipay payments.

"There are more than 450 million loyal Alipay users in China and roughly two million of those users visit the U.S. each year," said Frank Bisignano, First Data chairman and CEO. "First Data is honored to partner with Alipay to make this popular payment option available to Chinese consumers traveling in the U.S. This is another example of First Data leadership, helping our clients grow their businesses while helping consumers facilitate safe and secure payments anywhere in the world."

Verifone will enable merchants using the company's e355 mPOS product to accept Alipay anywhere in the store and implement marketing campaigns targeting Chinese consumers who use the Alipay app.

"By expanding Alipay acceptance across many boarders for an easy, frictionless traveling and shopping experience, Verifone is creating a future that takes the convenient cashless payment experience to the next level for Chinese consumers wherever they are," said Albert Liu, executive vice president of corporate development for Verifone. "The potential of Verifone's footprint of installed devices in more than 150 countries means we are connecting retailers to increasing opportunities to engage and serve global consumers from the POS."