At a stall in the Russian Market in Phnom Penh, a woman folding krama scarves taps a laminated card clipped to her counter. A customer ahead of you scans it with their phone. It chirps. No bills change hands. That card is KHQR, Cambodia's national QR payment standard. Most travelers who land in Phnom Penh don't have a Cambodian bank account, so they can't scan it. Moreta Pay does. You fund it from home, scan the vendor's KHQR code, check the merchant name, amount and exchange rate, and slide to pay. Moreta builds its wallet specifically to pay national QR networks across Asia and Latin America, so this guide covers how KHQR actually works rather than generic card advice. Keep a small cash reserve, and treat ATMs as the backup.
About the Author: This guide comes from Moreta Global Inc., a FinCEN-registered Money Services Business backed by Y Combinator (Summer 2024). Its Moreta Pay app pays KHQR in Cambodia alongside national QR networks in Malaysia, China, Brazil and other markets.
How do people pay at Cambodian markets in 2026?
Cambodians increasingly pay by scanning one national QR code, and the Russian Market in Phnom Penh is the clearest place to watch it happen.
The laminated card at those stalls is a KHQR code, Cambodia's national QR payment standard, running on Bakong, the National Bank of Cambodia's blockchain-based payment system. Every participating bank reads the same code format, so the scarf seller needs one sticker, not one per bank. Adoption is climbing fast. The National Bank of Cambodia's Financial Stability Review 2025 reported that Bakong transactions reached 1.3 billion in 2025, a 118.7 percent increase on the previous year.
Cambodia also runs on two currencies. Prices are often quoted in US dollars, while change below a dollar comes back as 500 and 1,000 riel notes counted out of a cash box.
Why can't tourists just use Cambodian banking apps?
KHQR's strength is also the wall visitors hit: it is a bank-to-bank standard, so paying a code means holding an account inside the system. The apps locals scan with are tied to Cambodian bank or wallet accounts. Opening one requires a local phone number and ID, with requirements that vary by institution. For a ten-day loop through Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Kampot, it is an awkward requirement. That leaves cash or an international card, and market stalls rarely have a card terminal.
What is the best payment app for international travelers in Cambodia?
The best app is one that pays KHQR directly with no local account. A multi currency travel wallet like Wise or Revolut is built for a different job. The comparison is about fit.
| Option | What it's built for | Where it fits in Cambodia |
|---|---|---|
| Moreta Pay | Paying national QR codes, including KHQR, from a home-currency balance | Stalls, cafés and tuk-tuks showing a KHQR code |
| Wise | Holding 40+ currencies and sending money to 160+ countries | Card spending and moving money between currencies |
| Revolut | Multi-currency accounts, a card and currency exchange | Card spending and ATM cash within your tier |
| ATM cash | Universal acceptance | Tips, donations, rural stops |
A Moreta Pay payment has four steps. You top up in your own currency. You scan the vendor's KHQR code. You see the merchant name, amount and exchange rate. Then you slide to pay. Your balance stays in your home currency until that moment and converts at the live rate. Moreta reports a 1.5% fee per payment, shown before you confirm, with no monthly plan. You get a receipt with the merchant name and payment number.
Malaysia's DuitNow QR and Brazil's Pix work the same way, so the setup at one market carries forward to the next.
How do you pay a tuk-tuk driver with a QR code?
Tuk-tuk fares are negotiated before you climb in, not settled at a meter. Some drivers keep a printed KHQR code tucked behind the seat. Others take only cash.
- Agree the fare before you climb in, and confirm whether it is in dollars or riel.
- Ask "QR?" and look for the KHQR logo on the driver's card.
- At drop-off, open Moreta Pay, scan, and check the merchant name and agreed amount.
- Slide to pay and show the driver the success screen.
QR scanning needs a data connection at the moment you pay. An eSIM is more critical here than at a café with Wi-Fi.
How much do Cambodia ATM fees cost travelers?
The ATM is your fallback for everything QR doesn't cover. A withdrawal can carry two charges. The first is a fee set by the ATM operator, shown on screen before you confirm. The second is whatever your home bank charges for a foreign withdrawal. Both vary by institution and change over time, so read the screen every time. Most Cambodian ATMs dispense US dollars, and some also offer riel.
A third charge is optional. If an ATM or card terminal offers to convert the amount into your home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion (DCC). The ATM operator sets the exchange rate, not your card network. Decline it every time and choose to be charged in the local currency.
How much cash should you still carry in Cambodia?
QR payments cover most of a city day, but not all of Cambodia. A roadside mango stand outside Kampot, a village shop, a temple donation box: these run on cash. Keep a modest reserve:
- Small US dollar bills in clean condition, since vendors often refuse torn or marked notes
- 1,000 and 5,000 riel notes for tips, bottled water and small change
- Cash for pagoda donation boxes and village stops on the road to Kep
Use this reserve last, not first.
What should you set up before landing in Phnom Penh?
Start these three steps at home.
- Install Moreta Pay and verify with a selfie and your passport. The process usually takes a few minutes.
- Fund it via US ACH, SEPA (EUR), UK Faster Payments, Canadian Interac e-Transfer, a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. USDC/USDT top-ups can't be spent in Cambodia. Moreta lists US bank top-ups at 1-3 business days, so fund early.
- Buy an eSIM so you have data at every scan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists pay KHQR in Cambodia without a local bank account?
Yes. Moreta Pay is built for visitors. You need identity verification and a data connection.
Does Moreta Pay work at the Russian Market in Phnom Penh?
It works at any stall displaying a KHQR code. Some stalls are cash-only, so carry small bills.
Should I pay in US dollars or riel?
Prices are often quoted in dollars, with small change in riel. With QR, the amount appears on screen before you confirm.
Do tuk-tuk drivers accept QR payments?
Some do. Confirm the fare and payment method before you climb in.
Can I use crypto with Moreta in Cambodia?
No. Crypto-funded money can't be spent in Cambodia, so top up by bank or card.
Is there a payment limit?
Yes. Each country has a maximum single payment and a weekly limit, shown in the app before you pay.
About Moreta
Moreta Global Inc. is a Delaware corporation and FinCEN-registered Money Services Business, backed by Y Combinator in its Summer 2024 batch. Its Moreta Pay app lets travelers fund a balance at home and pay national QR networks directly, including KHQR in Cambodia, DuitNow QR in Malaysia, WeChat Pay in China and Pix in Brazil.
To get started with Moreta Pay in Cambodia, visit moretapay.com.
