At a mamak counter in Kuala Lumpur, a laminated DuitNow QR sits next to the teh tarik jug, and the regulars pay without opening a wallet. You see the same thing across Asia, but each country uses its own code. In Malaysia it's DuitNow QR. Cambodia uses KHQR, and China uses WeChat Pay. Vietnam has VietQR, MoMo and ZaloPay. The Philippines has QR Ph and InstaPay, Laos has BCEL OnePay, South Korea has Seoul Pay, and Mongolia has QPay. Moreta builds Moreta Pay, an international digital wallet that connects to the networks in all eight countries. You top up from home in your own currency and scan the same code the locals scan. You don't need a local bank account or SIM.
About the Author: Moreta Global Inc. is a Y Combinator-backed (Summer 2024) and FinCEN-registered Money Services Business. It builds Moreta Pay, a wallet made to pay the national QR networks covered in this guide.
Why does every Asian country have its own QR code?
Every country here built its own QR system because QR payments run on domestic bank transfer rails, and those rails are national. That shared standard is what lets any connected bank or wallet in the country read any merchant's code.
Think of the QR as a printed address label. It holds the merchant's account details and sometimes the amount. It holds no money. The app that scans it has to be connected to that country's rails to deliver the transfer. That is where visitors hit a wall:
- The vendor's code expects payment from a local bank account or local wallet.
- Your home banking app isn't connected to Malaysian or Cambodian rails, so it can't read the label.
- Your card only works where there's a card terminal, and a noodle stall rarely has one.
Which QR code do you scan in each of the 8 countries?
If the code is an address label, the practical skill is knowing which label you're looking at.
| Country | QR you scan | Currency | Quirk to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | DuitNow QR | Ringgit (MYR) | One national code for banks and e-wallets |
| Cambodia | KHQR | Riel (KHR), with US dollars widely quoted | Stablecoin-funded balances can't be spent here |
| China | WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay) | Yuan (CNY) | The cashier scans your payment code. Stablecoin-funded balances can't be spent here |
| Vietnam | VietQR, MoMo, ZaloPay | Dong (VND) | Three rails, one scan |
| Philippines | QR Ph, InstaPay | Peso (PHP) | A code labelled for only one wallet may not be QR Ph |
| Laos | BCEL OnePay | Kip (LAK) | Look for the BCEL OnePay code at the counter |
| South Korea | Seoul Pay | Won (KRW) | Aimed at small businesses, so you won't see it everywhere |
| Mongolia | QPay | Tögrög (MNT) | Check for the QPay label before you scan |
What should you know about Malaysia, Cambodia and China?
Three of those quirks are worth a closer look, because they're the ones that trip up first-timers.
- Malaysia: A DuitNow QR Malaysia code works across participating banks and e-wallets. The sticker on a char kway teow stall in Penang works the same way as the one at a Bukit Bintang mamak. Moreta reports a limit of 12,000 MYR per payment and 24,000 MYR per week.
- Cambodia: At Phnom Penh's Russian Market, prices are often shown in dollars and riel side by side, and you scan a KHQR code. If you funded Moreta with USDC or USDT, that money can't be spent in Cambodia. Top up by card or bank transfer for this leg.
- China: Moreta pays WeChat Pay. In China, the Pay screen opens on your payment code and the cashier scans it. If you've been reading up on Alipay for foreigners, note that an Alipay-only code is a different network, and Moreta doesn't pay it. Stablecoin-funded balances can't be spent in China either.
How does one wallet pay networks in eight countries?
The short answer is that currency conversion happens at the moment you pay, not before. Moreta keeps your balance in your own currency until you pay. The practical result is that you don't end up with ringgit stuck in an account when you move on to Phnom Penh.
- Top up from home. Use US ACH, SEPA (EUR), UK Faster Payments (GBP), Canadian Interac e-Transfer (CAD), a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or USDC/USDT on Solana. Remember that stablecoin funds can't be spent in Cambodia or China.
- Scan the merchant's QR in Moreta Pay. Or show your own code where the cashier does the scanning.
- Check the screen. It shows the merchant name, the amount, the exchange rate and the fee.
- Slide to pay. The merchant receives local currency, and you get a receipt.
You only need mobile data or Wi-Fi at the moment you pay, which is why an eSIM helps.
How do you get fair travel currency exchange rates abroad?
The rate you get depends on who does the conversion, and the most common loss happens at a terminal. When an ATM or card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, that's dynamic currency conversion. Decline it every time and choose local currency.
Moreta reports a single fee of 1.5% per payment, shown before you confirm, with "no markup hidden in the rate." No app has the best exchange rate on every transaction. Moreta's own compare tool shows cost differences that vary by transaction, and it displays each option side by side so you can check before you rely on it.
Where will you still need cash?
QR acceptance is strong in cities and the places visitors go, but it doesn't cover everything. Seoul Pay targets small businesses, so a department store in Myeongdong may not display it. Keep a modest reserve:
- Riel notes for tuk-tuk tips outside Siem Reap
- A few thousand kip for temple donation boxes in Luang Prabang
- Ringgit coins for paid public toilets at highway rest stops
What should you set up before you land?
The three steps below take care of the parts that can't be done at a stall counter.
- Install Moreta Pay and verify your identity with a selfie and your passport. This usually takes a few minutes.
- Make your first top-up early. A US bank account top-up takes 1-3 business days.
- Buy an eSIM, because scanning needs a data connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can one app pay QR codes across Asia?
Yes. Moreta Pay pays local QR codes in Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, South Korea and Mongolia.
Do I need a local bank account or SIM?
No. You only need mobile data or Wi-Fi when you pay.
Can Moreta pay Alipay codes in China?
No. Moreta pays WeChat Pay, and an Alipay-only code is a different network.
Can I fund Moreta with stablecoins?
Yes. You can fund with USDC or USDT on Solana, but that balance can't be spent in Cambodia or China.
Are there payment limits?
Yes. Each country has a maximum single payment and a weekly limit, and the app shows both before you pay.
Is Moreta a bank?
No. Moreta is a FinCEN-registered Money Services Business, and your funds are held with licensed partner banks.
About Moreta
Moreta Global Inc. is a Delaware corporation and a Y Combinator-backed (Summer 2024) Money Services Business registered with FinCEN. Its app, Moreta Pay, lets travelers, expats and digital nomads scan national QR codes across Asia and Latin America without a local bank account. Your balance stays in your own currency until each payment converts at the live rate, with one fee shown before you confirm. Every account is identity-checked, and transactions are monitored around the clock.
Planning a route through several of these countries? See how Moreta Pay works at moretapay.com.
