# Afghanistan — payment codes and schemes

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AF
> extracted at 2026-10-03
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

## Summary

- **HesabPay** interoperable QR platform (Algorand blockchain)
- **M-Paisa** leading mobile money (100,000+ customers)
- **Humanitarian focus** QR for aid distribution
- **Limited adoption** (<1% population via MMOs)
- **Infrastructure challenges** connectivity/smartphone barriers

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB)
- **Website:** https://dab.gov.af/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, banking oversight

### Major Mobile Money Operators

| Operator | Brand | Type | Status |
|----------|-------|------|--------|
| Roshan | M-Paisa | Mobile money | Active |
| AWCC | My Money | Mobile money | Active |
| Etisalat | M-Hawala | Mobile money | Active |

### Market Structure
- **M-Paisa:** Largest (100,000+ customers)
- **Roshan:** Vodafone partnership
- **9,828 agents:** Registered (urban focused)
- **<1% penetration:** MMO reach

---

## Payment infrastructure

### Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| HesabPay | HesabPay | QR/Blockchain | Active |
| M-Paisa | Roshan | Mobile money | Active |
| My Money | AWCC | Mobile money | Active |
| M-Hawala | Etisalat | Mobile money | Active |

### M-Paisa Statistics
- **100,000+ customers**
- **$4 million/month** processed
- **350+ active agents**
- **2008 launch** (first in country)

### HesabPay Platform
- First interoperable digital payment
- Algorand blockchain (2022 migration)
- Humanitarian aid focus
- Local offices nationwide

---

## QR code standards

### HesabPay QR

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Operator** | HesabPay |
| **Technology** | Algorand blockchain |
| **Features** | QR card for basic phones |
| **Focus** | Humanitarian distribution |

### HesabPay QR Features
- Phone payments via app
- QR code card option
- Basic phone support (feature phones)
- Merchant QR scanning
- 12+ humanitarian organizations using

### How QR Card Works
- For users without smartphones
- Physical QR code card issued
- Represents user's account
- Merchant scans to request payment
- Enables financial access

### Tested QR Solutions
- Mobile wallets
- Debit cards
- E-vouchers
- Virtual accounts
- QR codes
- AfPay cards

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| HesabPay | HesabPay | Yes | Blockchain wallet |
| M-Paisa | Roshan | Limited | Mobile money |
| My Money | AWCC | Limited | Mobile money |

### HesabPay App
- Digital payments
- QR code transactions
- Humanitarian aid receipt
- Algorand blockchain security

### M-Paisa Features
- Send/receive money
- Bill payments
- Goods purchases
- Airtime top-up

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [HesabPay QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AF/hesabpay-qr) | Blockchain | Algorand | 12+ INGOs | [`hesabpay`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/hesabpay) |
| [M-Paisa](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AF/m-paisa) | Mobile money | Roshan | 100K+ users | — |
| [QR Card](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AF/qr-card) | Physical QR | HesabPay | Active | — |

## Sources

- [Thunes - Mobile Money Afghanistan](https://www.thunes.com/news/mobile-money-takes-off-slowly-in-afghanistan/)
- [UNDP - FSP Interoperability](https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-06/interoperability_of_fsps_afghanistan_undp-uncdf.pdf)
- [Algorand - HesabPay Case Study](https://algorand.co/case-studies/how-hesabpay-became-the-first-and-only-interoperable-digital-payments-platform-in-afghanistan)
- [Algorand - HesabPay Foundation](https://algorand.co/blog/hesabpay-giving-access-to-resources-for-the-people-of-afghanistan)
- [UNDP - Digital Transfers Afghanistan](https://www.undp.org/afghanistan/blog/can-digital-transfers-get-cash-where-its-needed-most-afghanistan)
- [UNCDF - Digital Transfers](https://www.uncdf.org/article/8309/can-digital-transfers-get-cash-to-where-its-needed-most-in-afghanistan)
- [PayCEC - Afghanistan Payment Gateway](https://www.paycec.com/us-en/faq/what-payment-gateway-does-afghanistan-use)
- [Integra - M-Paisa](https://www.integrallc.com/mobile-money-in-afghanistan-m-paisa/)
- [PayCEC - Online Payment Apps](https://www.paycec.com/us-en/faq/what-is-the-online-payment-app-in-afghanistan)
- [CGDev - Digital Payments Crisis Response](https://www.cgdev.org/publication/responding-afghanistans-humanitarian-crisis-potential-role-digital-payments)

## Full country report

[AF-afghanistan.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/AF)