Alipay Ant Forest Hits 700 Million Users and 700 Million Trees Milestone in Decade of Green Tech

Ant Group has reached a significant milestone in its environmental efforts, with its Alipay Ant Forest initiative surpassing 700 million users as of August 2026. For fintech professionals, this scale demonstrates the immense power of gamified ESG features to drive user engagement and massive capital deployment toward sustainability goals within a digital payment ecosystem.

What was announced

Ant Group confirmed that its green initiative, Alipay Ant Forest, has successfully engaged over 700 million users across China. This collective participation has resulted in the planting of more than 700 million real trees, primarily focused on ecological restoration in arid and environmentally fragile regions. The program, which launched in 2016, operates by rewarding users for low-carbon lifestyle choices made through the Alipay app.

Users earn virtual "green energy points" by performing everyday tasks such as taking public transportation, cycling, paying bills online to avoid paper waste, and utilizing various digital services. Once a user accumulates enough points to grow a virtual tree, Ant Group provides the funding to plant a physical tree through partnerships with environmental organizations. Over the past decade, Ant Group has invested more than RMB 5.1 billion (USD 759 million) into these initiatives based on user-initiated applications.

The impact extends beyond carbon sequestration. The tree-planting programs have created approximately 5.2 million job opportunities for local communities, generating RMB 770 million (USD 115 million) in income. The model has also been exported to other markets; in 2019, GCash launched GForest in the Philippines, and in 2025, DANA and Ant International introduced the Ocean Buddy initiative in Indonesia. Ocean Buddy focuses on marine conservation, specifically protecting whale sharks, and engages DANA’s 200 million users through similar gamification and visual incentives.

"Launched in 2016 within the Alipay app, Ant Forest transforms individual environmental choices into collective climate action."

Alipay Ant Forest, Ant Group.

The companies involved

Ant International is a major global digital payment and financial services provider, operating under the broader umbrella of Ant Group. The company is central to the development of cross-border payment solutions and digital financial infrastructure. Alipay, its flagship mobile payment platform, has evolved from a simple digital wallet into a comprehensive "super-app" that integrates financial services, social features, and environmental initiatives like Ant Forest.

GCash is the leading mobile wallet in the Philippines, providing millions of users with access to digital payments, credit, and savings. Similarly, DANA serves as a prominent e-wallet leader in Indonesia, boasting a user base of 200 million. Both companies have leveraged Ant Group’s technology and gamification strategies to implement localized sustainability programs. Conservation International, a global non-profit, provides the scientific and conservation expertise necessary to ensure these digital initiatives translate into meaningful ecological outcomes, such as the marine protection efforts seen in the Ocean Buddy program.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely monitored the expansion of Ant International’s digital ecosystem and its strategic partnerships across the Asia-Pacific region. We recently covered how Alipay+ Expands Global Bank Network to Fuel Asia Pacific Cross-Border Payment Surge, highlighting the company's role in connecting merchants with diverse digital payment methods. Additionally, our reporting on Ant International’s Bettr and Muslim Pro Launch Shariah-Compliant Umrah Financing in Malaysia showcased the firm's ability to tailor financial products to specific cultural and regional needs. These developments underscore a broader trend of integrating specialized services—whether religious, financial, or environmental—directly into the payment flow to deepen user retention.

What this means

The success of Ant Forest signals a shift in how the industry views ESG. It is no longer just a reporting requirement but a potent tool for customer acquisition and retention. By turning carbon reduction into a social game, Ant Group has created a "sticky" feature that competitors in the banking and wallet space are now under pressure to replicate. The challenge for the broader sector is whether they can match this scale of capital commitment—over $750 million—without the massive user base of a dominant super-app. As digital wallets become more commoditized, the ability to offer meaningful, tangible social impact could become a primary differentiator in the fight for consumer loyalty.