Core Viewpoint - Mobile payment has become an essential part of daily life, with a shift towards multi-payment strategies driven by diverse consumer habits and regulatory needs, leading to the rise of aggregation payment platforms [1][13]. Aggregation Payment Industry Overview - Aggregation payment, also known as "fusion payment," integrates multiple payment services into one platform, providing merchants with various services to reduce costs and improve efficiency [2]. - The industry can be divided into online and offline aggregation payment, both serving different merchant needs through a unified system [3]. Development Stages of Aggregation Payment - The development of aggregation payment has gone through three stages: 1. Initial phase (2014-2015) with the rise of QR codes and the shift to offline payments 2. Rapid growth phase (2016-2017) driven by product innovation and market expansion 3. Compliance phase (2017-present) with regulatory policies ensuring healthy industry growth [5]. Industry Value Chain - The upstream of the aggregation payment industry includes technology providers, payment service providers, and hardware suppliers, while the downstream focuses on merchants and consumers benefiting from simplified payment processes [7]. Current Market Trends - The aggregation payment market in China is projected to reach a transaction scale of 22.6 trillion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 14.1% [1][13]. - The user base for online payment is expected to reach 1.029 billion by the end of 2024, indicating a growing demand for aggregation payment services [11]. Competitive Landscape - The aggregation payment industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with key players including Lakala, Lichu Business Services, and Qianba Internet Technology, among others [15][17]. Future Development Trends 1. **Market Expansion to Lower-Tier Cities**: Aggregation payment companies are targeting third and fourth-tier cities for growth opportunities as urban markets become saturated [21]. 2. **International Market Exploration**: Companies are looking overseas for growth, leveraging their domestic advantages to participate in global payment solutions [22]. 3. **Technological Innovation**: The integration of new technologies like IoT and biometric payments is expected to enhance user experience and security [23]. 4. **Intensifying Market Competition**: Increased market entry will lead to more competition, potentially resulting in mergers and acquisitions to optimize resources [24].