Tencent is the Chinese technology company founded in 1998 that operates WeChat and uses the ticker TCEHY in the United States.
Tencent was established in Shenzhen by Pony Ma, Zhang Zhidong, Xu Cheney, Chen Yidan, and Zeng Liqing. Its first major product was OICQ, an instant-messaging service later renamed QQ. The company subsequently built a broad ecosystem spanning messaging, online games, digital content, advertising, and financial technology.
WeChat, known as Weixin in mainland China, launched in 2011 and became one of Tencent’s most influential products. Tencent’s primary listing is on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under ticker 700; TCEHY is an American depositary receipt traded over the counter. Confusing these tickers is common because they represent exposure to the same company through different market structures.