Tencent owns the WeChat messaging and payments platform.
Tencent launched WeChat in 2011. Known as Weixin in mainland China, the service developed from messaging into a broad mobile platform with voice and video calls, social feeds, mini-programs, games, and mobile payments. Its wide range of functions has made it a central digital service in China.
Tencent is one of China’s largest technology companies and has frequently ranked among the world’s most valuable public companies by market capitalization. It was founded in 1998 by Pony Ma and other co-founders. WeChat is sometimes confused with Tencent QQ, an older instant-messaging service that also belongs to Tencent. WeChat and QQ are separate products, although both helped establish Tencent’s communications business.