Status
LIVE
Cambodia
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System)
According to National Bank of Cambodia disclosures and linked sources, this profile records status, architecture, and capability fields for Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System).
Program Snapshot
Current status fields and timeline data from the profile record.
Type
RETAIL
Program classification
Wallets
10,000,000
As of 2025-12-31
Annual Volume
$152.8B
high confidence
Status and Timeline
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Announced | 2019-01-01 |
| Pilot start | Not listed |
| Launch | 2020-10-01 |
| Last verified | 2026-02-18 |
Availability
- Retail
- live
- Wholesale
- none
Central Bank
National Bank of Cambodia
Technical Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Retail |
| Architecture | two-tier |
| Access model | account based |
| Technology base | dlt |
| Legal tender | full |
Capabilities
offline payments: No
programmability: No
cross border: Yes
interest bearing: No
transaction limits: Yes
Cross-Border Projects
No cross-border project entries are listed for this profile.
Recent Updates
According to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), Bakong is a retail payment system launched in October 2020 that functions as a CBDC-like platform for peer-to-peer fund transfers. The system recorded 1.325 billion transactions in 2025, a 1.2-fold increase from 2024, with 771.2 million transactions in Khmer riel (up 1.6x) and 554.5 million in US dollars. Transaction value reached 285.9 trillion riel (~$70 billion) and $152.8 billion USD respectively. Bakong has 10 million active wallets and 63 official member institutions. A primary objective is reducing dollarization in Cambodia's economy by promoting riel usage - riel payments via Bakong have increased over 50% since launch. The system facilitates real-time transactions for businesses and consumers, including government payment processes such as tax collection and public services. Bakong enables cross-border payments with Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam through bilateral arrangements.
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cambodia have a CBDC?
According to listed sources, Cambodia is developing Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System), currently in live phase.
What is the current status of Cambodia's CBDC?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is listed as live as of 2026-02-18.
When did Cambodia start CBDC pilot activity?
No pilot start date is listed for this program.
How many users or wallets are reported for Cambodia's CBDC?
As of 2025-12-31, Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) reports 10,000,000 wallets.
Is Cambodia's CBDC retail, wholesale, or hybrid?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is categorized as retail.
Which institution manages Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System)?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is managed by National Bank of Cambodia.
Related CBDCs
Sources
Sources
Last verified: 2026-02-18
National Bank of Cambodia
central bank
Bakong Transactions Reach 1.3 Billion in 2025
news
Cambodia's central bank uses CBDC to stifle dollarization of local economy
news