Malaysia vs Japan · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | DuitNow | Zengin |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Japan's domestic interbank clearing network, one of the oldest electronic payment systems in the world, connecting over 1,000 banks and financial institutions. Originally a batch-processing system, Zengin was upgraded to 24/7 real-time operations in 2018 via the "More Time System" extension. Operated by the Japanese Bankers Association with settlement through the BOJ, it handles the vast majority of Japan's domestic credit transfers. Note: data includes all Zengin transactions (both real-time and batch-processed), as the system does not separately report its 24/7 instant component.