Malaysia vs Kenya · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | DuitNow | M-Pesa |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wallet Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | ✓ | ◐ |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | — |
| Request to Pay | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open API | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alias/Proxy | ✓ | ✓ |
Malaysia's unified real-time payment platform operated by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet). DuitNow supports instant transfers via mobile number, NRIC, passport number, or business registration, with DuitNow QR enabling interoperable merchant payments across all banks and e-wallets. The system also includes DuitNow Request (request-to-pay) and DuitNow Autodebit for recurring payments. Cross-border QR linkages with Thailand's PromptPay, Singapore's PayNow, and Indonesia's QRIS are live or in progress.
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).