WB Wallet is being tested on AliExpress CIS: Wildberries is preparing cross-platform payments for a large-scale partnership
RVB (Wildberries & Russ) has launched a test: some Russian buyers can pay for goods on AliExpress CIS using a WB Wallet. The stated goal is to test the user scenario and "stitch" the payment infrastructure of the two platforms before potentially scaling to all customers.
At the same time, they also reminded us about the B2B contour: WB Wallet (as a payment service for external sites/applications) It was opened to partners in 2025; now more than 50 companies are connected to it, including Tefal, Getcourse, Prodamus, Exist, EnerGo, and Mosavtoshina.
Why is this important for the marketplace market, and not just for "payers"
- Cross-platform loyalty is becoming an asset. When a wallet/payment "lives" not only inside one marketplace, the platform begins to compete not only with the showcase and logistics, but also with the usual payment method. This is similar to the "one—click payment" effect: less friction means higher conversion at the checkout stage.
- There is a new channel for attracting customers. AliExpress CIS gets an additional convenient payment method for the WB audience, and WB gets a "point of presence" in someone else's checkout. As a result, the value of your own account and saved cards increases: the user is less likely to "break down" to enter the details and less likely to throw the basket.
- A test is a test not only of UI, but also of operational reliability. The weak point in payments is almost always in the nuances: refunds, partial refunds, cancellations, disputed transactions, multi-currency/fees, anti-fraud, limits, as well as the speed of confirmation of "paid/canceled" statuses. The pilot is just needed to catch failures in real-world scenarios before scaling.
What does this mean for sellers and logistics (applied)
- The potential increase in conversion from the site where the "fast" payment method is enabled automatically affects sales turnover: more completed orders with the same traffic.
- The load on the warehouse / delivery may not grow linearly: if the improvement in payment especially "shoots out" during peak hours/ sales, the risk of SLA drawdown increases if the operating capacities are not ready.
- The discipline of returns will become even more important: the easier it is to pay, the more "fitting/selection" orders there will be (especially in the fashion/electronics and accessories categories). This means that the cards are more accurate, the specifications are clearer, the packaging is better, and there is less reverse logistics.
Conclusion
The pilot of the WB Wallet on AliExpress CIS is a signal of the next phase of digital platform competition: the struggle is for a payment scenario and user retention between ecosystems. If the test is successful and scaling takes place, the market will see an increased trend towards "ecosystem payments", where the wallet becomes the same growth tool as advertising and fulfillment.
