Jordan vs Kenya · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | CliQ | M-Pesa |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | — | ✓ |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — | ◐ |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | — |
| Request to Pay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open API | ◐ | ✓ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
Jordan's national instant retail payment service, operated by JoPACC (Jordan Payments and Clearing Company) under Central Bank of Jordan oversight since 2020. Enables 24/7 real-time transfers between accounts at all licensed banks and payment service providers via CliQ alias (mobile number or user handle) instead of IBAN. Supports person-to-person and person-to-merchant transfers with a companion merchant QR standard and Request-to-Pay features. Domestic-only rail priced at cost recovery under CBJ pricing rules. 2025 volume doubled year-on-year (83.9M to 167.9M transactions), among the fastest-growing RTP systems globally.
Africa's pioneering mobile money platform that revolutionised financial services by enabling P2P transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, savings, and loans via basic SMS or smartphone app — no bank account required. Launched by Safaricom in Kenya in 2007, M-Pesa now serves 60M+ active users across Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, and other African markets. It processes more transactions than many traditional banking systems and has become a textbook case study in financial inclusion, reaching unbanked populations through mobile-first design and agent networks. Note: Data follows Safaricom's fiscal year ending March (e.g. "2025" = April 2024 – March 2025).