United States vs Egypt · Real-time payment systems compared
| Capability | FedNow | InstaPay EG |
|---|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | — | ◐ |
| Wallet Support | — | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — | — |
| ISO 20022 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Request to Pay | ✓ | — |
| Open API | ✓ | ◐ |
| Alias/Proxy | — | ✓ |
The Federal Reserve's instant payment service enabling US banks and credit unions to send and receive payments in seconds, 24/7/365. Launched in July 2023, FedNow is the first new Fed payment rail in 50 years and aims to democratise instant payments by giving all 10,000+ US depository institutions direct access (unlike the private-sector RTP). Supports credit transfers up to $500K with plans to add request-for-payment and other features. Note: FedNow shows extreme growth rates as it scales from a low base — value jumped 35x in Q3 2024 as larger institutions onboarded, which is typical for newly launched payment systems.
Egypt's instant payment network launched by the Central Bank of Egypt as part of its financial inclusion and digital transformation strategy. InstaPay enables 24/7 real-time transfers via mobile number, national ID, or account number across banks, mobile wallets, and payment service providers. With Egypt's large unbanked population (~65%), the system plays a critical role in bringing digital payments to the masses. It supports P2P, P2M, and government-to-person disbursements with growing merchant QR adoption.