Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System)
National Bank of Cambodia
Status
Metrics
Architecture
Cross-Border Projects
No cross-border projects reported.
Capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cambodia have a CBDC?
Yes, Cambodia is developing Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System), currently in live phase.
What is the status of Cambodia's CBDC?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is in live phase as of 2026-02-18. The CBDC has launched for public use.
When did Cambodia launch its CBDC pilot?
No pilot launch date has been announced yet. The project is currently in live phase.
How many people use Cambodia's CBDC?
As of 2025-12-31, Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) has 10,000,000 wallets/users. Annual transaction volume is $153 billion.
Is Cambodia's CBDC retail or wholesale?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is a retail CBDC designed for public use in everyday transactions.
Which central bank manages Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System)?
Cambodia Bakong (Digital Payment System) is managed by National Bank of Cambodia.
Recent Developments
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: 2/18/2026