In August 2025, the Chinese giant Ant Group finally pulled out of Paytm by selling its remaining 5.84% stake for nearly ₹3,800 crore. Earlier in May, it had already sold a chunk of shares worth about ₹2,100 crore. With this, Ant Group has completely exited Paytm’s parent company, One97 Communications — marking the end of Chinese ownership in one of India’s biggest fintech names. This is a huge turning point for Paytm as it moves toward becoming fully Indian-owned.
Ant’s Journey with Paytm
Ant Group, along with Alibaba, had invested around $851 million in Paytm since 2015. They were among the first big investors who believed in India’s digital payments revolution early on. At one point, Ant’s stake in Paytm was significant, reflecting their faith in the company’s long-term potential.
Selling at a Heavy Loss
However, the road hasn’t been easy. Despite their initial optimism, Ant Group couldn’t recoup their investment fully. They managed to get back around ₹5,900–6,000 crore from these recent sales — but that’s way less than what they put in. All told, Ant faced a steep loss estimated at nearly ₹15,700 crore ($2 billion). Several other big investors have also pulled back or reduced their stakes. This reflects the challenging environment post-Paytm’s IPO, coupled with regulatory hurdles and geopolitical tensions.
What Does Paytm Look Like Now?
With Ant Group out, Paytm’s ownership structure has changed dramatically:
- Chinese ownership has dropped to zero.
- Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma still holds roughly 9–14%.
- Indian institutional investors like Elevation Capital (formerly SAIF Partners) are now major shareholders.
- The rest is held by other Indian investors and public shareholders.
This shift takes away a lot of regulatory and geopolitical pressure and sets the stage for a more India-focused future.
How’s Paytm Performing Financially?
After years of losses, things are finally looking up:
- For the April-June quarter of 2025, Paytm reported its first-ever profit of ₹123 crore.
- Revenues grew 28% year-over-year, crossing ₹1,900 crore.
- Profit margins improved substantially thanks to better operational efficiency.
This quarter’s results suggest that Paytm might have turned a corner — moving from a loss-making startup to a viable fintech company.
What the Founder Says: Optimistic and Proud
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm’s founder and CEO, has always been a strong believer in homegrown innovation. He’s expressed pride in Paytm’s new status as a fully Indian company — “as Indian as Tata,” he often says. He acknowledges past hurdles but remains confident about future growth, emphasizing profitability, innovation, and serving Indian consumers above all else.
The Bottom Line
Ant Group’s exit is a big lesson in how early-stage tech investments can face huge ups and downs. For Paytm, this is a fresh start — free from external ownership pressures and focused on its Indian roots. With founder-led leadership, improving finances, and growing domestic support, Paytm’s next chapter looks promising and full of opportunity.
