Paytm, India’s leading digital payments platform, is now 100% Indian-owned after Chinese giant Ant Financial, owned by Jack Ma, sold its remaining 5.84% stake in parent company One97 Communications for ₹3,803 crore. This historic move marks the complete removal of Chinese ownership from the fintech major, making it “as Indian as Tata,” as sources put it.

The transformation comes almost nine years after founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma famously said, “We are as Indian as Maruti.” What was once a symbolic statement is now a reality, as Paytm’s shareholder list is dominated by Indian and global institutional investors.

The timing is significant-Paytm recently posted its first fully profitable quarter (Q1 FY26) with a net profit of ₹123 crore, revenue growth of 28% year-on-year, and a 52% jump in contribution profit.

Beyond ownership changes, Paytm continues to innovate with features like personalised UPI IDs, hidden payment options, consolidated balance views, and expanded UPI acceptance in global markets such as UAE, Singapore, and France.

This shift not only strengthens Paytm’s national identity but also signals a broader movement toward Indian self-reliance in tech, aligning with the Make in India vision.