I started seeing Alipay as an option on some online places. How does it work in the USA?

There are currently few direct consumer payment options in the USA that accept AliPay.

Although AliPay is available as a payment option on some international websites, its infrastructure and user base are primarily focused on mainland China. This means that it can be difficult and not all merchants will accept AliPay when using a US bank account or debit card in the US.

It makes more sense for US customers wishing to make online purchases to rely on commonly used payment methods like debit and credit cards, as well as digital wallets like PayPal and Apple Pay. These options are more widely available for domestic transactions and are deeply ingrained in the US payment ecosystem.

AliPay does, however, have programs like "Alipay+" designed to assist US companies in accepting payments from foreign customers, including those who use AliPay in China. If a US company's website displays the "Alipay+" logo, it means they serve Chinese customers by supporting a number of digital wallets, possibly including AliPay.

While AliPay may eventually extend its consumer services into the US market, for the time being its primary focus is on serving Chinese users and enabling cross-border transactions worldwide.