# Ethiopia — payment codes and schemes

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

## Summary

- **Telebirr** 75M subscriber target by 2028
- **M-Pesa LeHulum** telco-agnostic (2024)
- **EthSwitch QR** interoperable (EMVCo)
- **ETB 18.5 trillion** annual digital ($119B)
- **EthSwitch integration** Oct 2024

## Banking landscape

### Central Bank
- **Name:** National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE)
- **Website:** https://nbe.gov.et/
- **Role:** Monetary policy, digital payment strategy

### Major Banks (2024)

| Rank | Bank Name | Type | Digital Platform |
|------|-----------|------|------------------|
| 1 | Commercial Bank of Ethiopia | State | CBE Birr |
| 2 | Dashen Bank | Private | Amole |
| 3 | Awash Bank | Private | Awash Mobile |
| 4 | Abyssinia Bank | Private | BoA Mobile |
| 5 | Cooperative Bank of Oromia | Private | Coopay |

### Market Structure
- **Telebirr:** Ethio Telecom dominant
- **M-Pesa:** Safaricom Ethiopia
- **EthSwitch:** National switch
- **15+ banks:** Connected

---

## Payment infrastructure

### National Payment Systems

| System | Operator | Type | Status |
|--------|----------|------|--------|
| EthSwitch | National | Payment switch | Active |
| Telebirr | Ethio Telecom | Mobile money | Dominant |
| M-Pesa | Safaricom | Mobile money | Active (2024) |

### Digital Payment Statistics
- **ETB 18.5 trillion** annual ($119B)
- **Telebirr target:** 75M subscribers
- **21.3 trillion birr** by 2028

### EthSwitch Integration
- 15+ domestic banks
- Mobile wallet connections
- Interoperability enabled
- Real-time processing

---

## QR code standards

### EthSwitch QR (EMVCo)

| Attribute | Value |
|-----------|-------|
| **Standard** | EMVCo |
| **Type** | Interoperable |
| **Operator** | EthSwitch |
| **Status** | Rolling out |

### Interoperable QR Initiative
- EMVCo standard alignment
- Open-loop QR codes
- Cross-platform transactions
- Merchant expansion

### Current QR Challenges
- Closed-loop systems (Telebirr)
- Platform-specific QR
- Limited interoperability
- App-only restrictions

### M-Pesa QR Features
- EthQR code payments
- Merchant acceptance
- Bank-issued QR support
- Cross-platform potential

---

## Mobile payment apps

| App | Provider | QR | Features |
|-----|----------|-------|----------|
| Telebirr | Ethio Telecom | Yes | Full wallet |
| M-Pesa LeHulum | Safaricom | Yes | Telco-agnostic |
| Bank Apps | Various | Limited | Banking |

### Telebirr
- Ethio Telecom service
- Merchant POS payments
- QR code scanning
- Bill payments
- 75M target by 2028

### M-Pesa LeHulum (2024)
- Telco-agnostic platform
- Any SIM card works
- Fayda Digital ID eKYC
- EthSwitch integrated (Oct 2024)
- EthQR acceptance

### M-Pesa Features
- Send/receive money
- Merchant payments
- Bill payments
- Airtime purchase
- Short-term loans
- Currency exchange

---

## Schemes

| Scheme | Type | Symbology | Adoption | Technical standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [EthSwitch QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ET/ethswitch-qr) | EMVCo | Interop | Rolling out | [`ethswitch-qr`](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/ethswitch-qr) |
| [Telebirr](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ET/telebirr) | Mobile money | QR | 75M target | — |
| [M-Pesa](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ET/m-pesa) | Mobile money | QR | 2024 | — |

## Sources

- [Connecting Africa - M-Pesa Telco-Agnostic](https://www.connectingafrica.com/mobile-money/m-pesa-ethiopia-debuts-a-fully-telco-agnostic-platform)
- [Birr Metrics - M-Pesa Launch](https://birrmetrics.com/m-pesa-ethiopia-launches-telco-agnostic-mobile-money-platform-to-expand-digital-finance-access/)
- [Ecofin Agency - M-Pesa EthSwitch](https://www.ecofinagency.com/news-digital/2810-49898-safaricom-integrates-m-pesa-into-ethiopias-payment-rail)
- [Addis Insight - Interoperable QR](https://addisinsight.net/2024/11/08/ethiopia-aims-for-cashless-economy-with-interoperable-qr-code-payment-system/)
- [Ethio Telecom - Telebirr](https://www.ethiotelecom.et/telebirr/)
- [M-Pesa Ethiopia Official](https://m-pesa.safaricom.et/)
- [We Are Tech - Digital Strategy](https://www.wearetech.africa/en/fils-uk/news/finance/ethiopia-launches-5-year-digital-payment-strategy-instant-payment-system)
- [AfricaNenda - Ethiopia Digital](https://www.africanenda.org/en/blog/2024/ethiopias-digital-payments-journey-leveraging-the-national-digital-transformation-strategy-2025)

## Full country report

[ET-ethiopia.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/ET)