Moreta is proud to announce that QR code payments will soon be available across five new major Asian markets. Moreta is a mobile payment platform purpose-built for travelers, expats and digital nomads looking for a safer and easier way to pay like locals throughout Asia while still using their bank accounts in the US, UK or EU. The Moreta app offers unmatched simplicity and security, tapping into local payment networks across Southeast Asia. Now, those capabilities are coming to Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China and India.

With the Moreta app, travelers to these countries no longer need to worry about foreign exchange rates from their home banks when using cards, the security risks of handling cash or the frustration of opening local accounts. No matter how long your stay is, you can use the Moreta app to make seamless QR code payments while enjoying benefits like one percent cash back, zero fees and greater transparency.

Why QR Code Payments Matter for Travelers in Asia

While cash used to be king around the world, many parts of Asia are rapidly moving away from it. Digital payments are quickly becoming the norm, with millions using digital wallets in Asia to send money, pay merchants and more. The Asia Pacific region is leading the charge toward QR code payments, and Moreta enables visitors to get in on the action without needing a local bank account.

QR code payments in Asia are changing how tourists, expats and nomads manage money. In the past, the only options were to rely on cash or a card. However, doing so was costly and risky. Using debit or credit cards incurs pricey foreign transaction fees and typically nets you unfavorable exchange rates. Meanwhile, the struggle of finding a working ATM paired with the risks of carrying around wads of cash made paying for goods and services a hassle.

Moreta solves those issues and more, allowing you to pay like a local throughout Asia. After creating your Moreta account, you can connect it to your home bank account and add funds. During your travels, paying merchants and service providers is as easy as using the app to scan QR codes.

With Moreta, there's no fumbling with cash or paying eye-watering fees. It's simple, easy and secure.

How Moreta's Digital Wallet Works Across Asia

You don't need to be tech-savvy or have a deep understanding of Asian finances to make the most out of Moreta. The Moreta app is easy to use, whether you're traveling for a short time or embarking on extended adventures.

Start by downloading the app and creating your account. Moreta has strict identity verification processes, which help improve security. Fortunately, verifying your identity is a breeze, and you can do it all on the Moreta app. Upload a photo of your passport and take a selfie, and you're good to go.

After verification, you can connect your bank account in the US, UK or EU via Plaid, a platform that securely connects your bank account with the Moreta app. You can then add funds to your Moreta account, which Moreta insures and stores with trusted banks. Add as much as you need to last throughout your travels, or add funds as you go. The choice is yours.

When it's time to pay a merchant, scan their QR code directly within the Moreta app. Then, review the payment details, including the amount and foreign exchange rate. If all looks good, swipe to pay. 

The Moreta digital wallet instantly converts your home currency to the local currency, sending the funds to the merchant quickly. Because Moreta prioritizes transparency, you see the exchange rate before you confirm the transaction. It's a seamless, quick and easy experience that doesn't require you to pull out cards or cash.

Mobile Payment Networks Across Five Countries

Here's the thing about QR code payments and digital wallets in Asia: Every country has its own network. Cross-compatibility exists, but each country maintains a network that operates separately. Moreta integrates with all of them. That means you can use a single app to make QR code payments in Asia, tapping into the networks of multiple countries without needing separate apps and wallets.

Indonesia's QRIS Network

In Indonesia, mobile payments go through the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) network. It's a unified QR code system that millions of merchants in Indonesia accept. From street food vendors to major retailers, the acceptance of QR code payments through QRIS is broad.

Moreta supports QRIS, allowing travelers and long-term visitors to pay wherever merchants display a QR code. In larger Indonesian cities, that's nearly everywhere. However, you'll also find acceptance in smaller towns, too. As of 2024, over 30 million merchants throughout the country accept QRIS QR code payments.

Japan's AuPay QR System

AuPay is a widely used QR code payment method in Japan. It's a bit different from other payment services. Rather than customers like you scanning a merchant's QR code, it's the vendor that does the scanning. AuPay is a merchant scan service, which means that you show your QR code to stores, and they scan it to initiate a payment.

Merchant scan and AuPay are incredibly popular in Japanese convenience stores, restaurants and shops. Moreta supports AuPay, offering easier payment options in a country that still relies heavily on cash, alongside newer digital options.

China's Alipay and WeChat Pay

Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate China's payment landscape. In China, the penetration rate for QR code payments is over 92 percent. They're widespread, and you're bound to find more merchants preferring QR code payments over cash. Locals use these platforms for everything from taxi rides to street market purchases. Having the ability to tap into these networks and make payments is essential to daily life in China.

Tourists often struggle to access these networks and pay like locals, but with Moreta, that's no longer the case. Moreta has seamless integration with the Alipay and WeChat Pay networks, allowing visitors to finally participate in China's cashless society without needing to open a local bank account.

India's UPI QR and Bharat QR

India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) QR and Bharat QR systems transformed how the country manages money and makes payments. You'll see QR codes throughout India, from rickshaw drivers to small shops and restaurants. Interestingly, India largely leapfrogged card payments and went straight to digital alternatives like QR-based transactions. Rather than transitioning from cash to card, the country moved to instant digital payments via QR code.

Thanks to Moreta's integration with these networks, travelers like you can easily pay millions of merchants without issue.

Malaysia's DuitNow QR

DuitNow is Malaysia's national QR code payment standard. Millions of merchants now accept QR code payments, and there's widespread acceptance among vendors at hawker centers, shopping malls and businesses of all sizes.

With the Moreta Pay app, you can make seamless QR code payments using the DuitNow network. Thanks to its growing popularity, you can use Moreta to make payments throughout your travels in Malaysia, whether visiting Kuala Lumpur or smaller Malaysian cities.

H2: Pay Like a Local with Zero Fees and Cash Back

There's much to love about Moreta. Not only does its increasing access to QR code payment networks in Asia expand your travel possibilities, but you also get benefits that no other platform provides. Use Moreta to make local payments without a local bank account. Connect your US, UK or EU bank account to fund your account and make QR payments in Asia just like residents do. 

With Moreta, you even get perks like one percent cash back on all purchases. Plus, you pay zero fees and get full transparency for every transaction. See exchange rates before confirming your purchase and receive more favorable mid-market exchange rates.

With Moreta, you can save a small fortune on fees alone. Unlike withdrawing cash from an ATM or using your cards, you won't pay excessive foreign transaction fees or marked-up rates. Get more transparency and save money during your travels. Thanks to Moreta's integration with networks in multiple countries throughout Asia, you can take the trip of a lifetime without worrying about how you'll pay for goods and services.

Get Ready to Travel Smarter Across Asia

Ready to simplify how you pay your way through Asia and get peace of mind like never before? Download the Moreta app. With Moreta, you can ditch the excessive fees, leave the worries of handling cash behind and enjoy benefits like one percent cashback and greater transparency. Use the Moreta app to make QR code payments in multiple countries. With Moreta's expansion, all you need is one app to make payments in five separate countries!

Download the Moreta app and connect your bank account. It only takes minutes, and you'll be ready to begin making QR code payments wherever they're accepted during your travels in Asia before you know it. Get the Moreta app today to get started!