Bakong: Cambodia's Central Bank Digital Currency and Instant Payment System
Bakong is Cambodia's central bank digital currency (CBDC) and real-time gross settlement system operated by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). Launched in 2020, Bakong enables instant peer-to-peer and merchant payments in both Khmer Riel (KHR) and US Dollars via the KHQR standardized QR code protocol.
Updated March 20263 min read
Bakong processed over 21 million transactions in 2024, representing a 78% year-over-year increase in adoption across Cambodia.
— National Bank of Cambodia Annual Report, 2024
Over 60 financial institutions including banks, microfinance institutions, and payment service providers are connected to the Bakong system.
— National Bank of Cambodia, 2025
How Bakong Works
Bakong operates as a hybrid CBDC system built on Hyperledger Iroha blockchain technology, developed in partnership with Japanese firm Soramitsu. The system functions as both a digital currency (e-wallet) and an interbank settlement network.
When a consumer initiates a payment via any Bakong-connected bank app, the transaction settles in real-time on the Bakong ledger. This eliminates the multi-day clearing cycles typical of traditional banking. Both KHR and USD transactions are supported natively, reflecting Cambodia's dual-currency economy.
KHQR Integration
KHQR (Khmer QR) is the standardized QR code payment protocol that operates on top of Bakong. Introduced in July 2022, KHQR enables any merchant to accept payments from any Bakong-connected bank or wallet through a single QR code.
For merchants and enterprises, this eliminates the need to support multiple payment app QR codes. A single KHQR code works across all participating institutions. CamFinTech helps businesses implement KHQR acceptance through point-of-sale integration and e-commerce gateway development.
Cross-Border Capabilities
Bakong has established cross-border payment corridors with several countries through bilateral agreements. Notable connections include linkages with Thailand's PromptPay, Malaysia's DuitNow, and China's Alipay.
These corridors enable real-time cross-border remittance and merchant payments, reducing transfer costs and settlement times from days to seconds. For enterprises operating across ASEAN, Bakong's cross-border capabilities present significant opportunities for payment optimization.
| Partner Country | System | Status | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | PromptPay | Operational | Remittance, Tourism |
| Malaysia | DuitNow | Operational | Remittance, Trade |
| China | Alipay | Operational | Tourism, E-commerce |
| Vietnam | NAPAS | In Development | Trade, Remittance |
| Laos | LAPNet | MoU Signed | Border Trade |
Enterprise Integration with CamFinTech
CamFinTech provides end-to-end Bakong integration services for enterprises. This includes API architecture design for Bakong Open API connectivity, KHQR merchant onboarding, payment gateway development, and reconciliation system implementation.
CamFinTech's integration approach ensures enterprises can accept Bakong payments across online and offline channels while maintaining full compliance with NBC regulatory requirements.
Cambodia is one of only a few countries globally with a fully operational retail CBDC, positioning it ahead of most ASEAN nations in digital currency deployment.
— Bank for International Settlements, 2024
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