# Keepz QR > Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/keepz-qr > research date 2026-05-29 · extracted at 2026-10-06 > Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards Specifications: - [Keepz — official](https://keepz.me/) - [Keepz × Georgia digital-tax payments — Fintech Times](https://thefintechtimes.com/keepz-facilitates-using-digital-currencies-to-pay-for-taxes-in-georgia/) ## Overview **Keepz** is **Georgia's fastest-growing fintech**, founded by **CEO Papuna Lezhava**, providing **QR-based payment acceptance for merchants** with comprehensive **cryptocurrency + Open Banking + mobile-banking integration** [1][1], [2][2], [Georgia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/GE). Keepz has onboarded **20,000+ merchants** in Georgia, enabling payment acceptance via traditional and emerging channels — **Apple Pay, Google Pay, cryptocurrency, mobile banking** for buyers. The structural distinction: Keepz was the **first fintech in Georgia to acquire an Open Banking licence** and the **first to integrate cryptocurrency payments into tax collection**. In **December 2024, Keepz helped position Georgia as one of the first countries globally to enable tax payments via digital assets** — merchants can accept payments in **USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies**, with the converted-to-fiat value usable for tax obligations [2][2]. This **crypto-to-tax-payment bridge** is structurally one of the most progressive government-crypto-integration arrangements globally. **Keepz also brought Georgia its first 24/7 instant bank-to-bank transfer service** (October 2025) — extending its infrastructure role beyond merchant acceptance into core interbank payment innovation. The Georgian context: Georgia has been one of the world's most crypto-friendly jurisdictions, and Keepz exemplifies the country's fintech-and-crypto-forward positioning. ## History **Founding** [2][2], [Georgia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/GE): - **Papuna Lezhava** co-founds Keepz. - Tbilisi-based. **First Open Banking licence in Georgia** [2][2]: - Keepz becomes first Georgian fintech with Open Banking licence. - Foundation for bank-account-integrated payment products. **Cryptocurrency integration** [2][2]: - Merchants accept USDT, Bitcoin, Ethereum, other major cryptos. **December 2024 — Digital-tax-payment milestone** [2][2]: - Keepz facilitates **first government tax payments via digital currencies in Georgia**. - Positions Georgia as global pioneer. **October 2025 — 24/7 instant bank-to-bank transfer** [[financial-it]]: - Keepz brings Georgia its **first 24/7 instant interbank-transfer service**. **20,000+ merchants** [2][2]: - Substantial Georgian merchant penetration. **Credo Bank partnership — Keepz QR Terminal** [1][1]: - Credo Bank offers Keepz QR Terminal for Georgian merchants. ## Technical specification Keepz is **Georgia's Open-Banking + crypto-integrated QR-payment fintech** [1][1], [2][2]: | Layer | Description | |---|---| | **Operator** | **Keepz** (Georgian fintech) | | **CEO** | Papuna Lezhava | | **Currency** | GEL (Georgian lari) + USDT/BTC/ETH/other crypto | | **Channels** | Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto wallets, mobile banking | | **QR support** | QR-code-based merchant acceptance | | **Open Banking licence** | First in Georgia | | **Crypto integration** | USDT, BTC, ETH + others; tax-payment integration | | **Merchants** | 20,000+ | | **24/7 interbank transfer** | First in Georgia (Oct 2025) | | **Partner** | **Credo Bank** (Keepz QR Terminal) | **Crypto-to-tax-payment flow** [2][2]: - Merchant accepts crypto payment from customer. - Keepz handles conversion. - Converted value usable for Georgian tax obligations. **Open Banking integration** [2][2]: - Direct bank-account-payment integration. - Enables instant interbank transfers. ## Use cases **Merchant QR-payment acceptance** [1][1]: 20,000+ Georgian merchants. **Cryptocurrency-payment acceptance** [2][2]: Major cryptocurrencies (USDT, BTC, ETH). **Tax payments via digital assets** [2][2]: Pay Georgian government taxes via crypto. **24/7 instant bank-to-bank transfer** [[financial-it]]: Real-time interbank transfers — first in Georgia. **Cross-channel acceptance** [2][2]: Apple Pay, Google Pay, crypto wallets, mobile banking — comprehensive cross-channel coverage. **Cryptal × Keepz top-up** [[cryptal]]: Cryptal exchange integrates Keepz for fiat-or-crypto balance top-up. ## Implementations & ecosystem **Operator**: **Keepz**. **CEO**: **Papuna Lezhava**. **Partner bank**: **Credo Bank** (Keepz QR Terminal). **Other partners**: **Cryptal** (Georgian exchange), Georgian Revenue Service (for tax-payment integration). **Major Georgian competitors**: Bank-specific mobile-payment apps (TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia, Liberty Bank); Apple Pay/Google Pay; other fintechs. ## Fun facts - **First Georgian fintech with Open Banking licence**: Regulatory-first-mover advantage. - **Crypto-to-tax-payment world first**: Georgia became one of first countries globally enabling tax payments via digital assets — Keepz facilitated. - **20,000 merchants in 4M-population country**: Substantial penetration relative to Georgia's small economy. - **Cross-channel design**: Apple Pay + Google Pay + crypto + mobile banking — broader channel coverage than most QR-focused peers. - **24/7 interbank transfer first**: Keepz also pioneered Georgia's real-time interbank-transfer service. - **Georgia's crypto-friendly positioning**: Georgia has emerged as one of world's most crypto-friendly jurisdictions; Keepz exemplifies the fintech-and-crypto-forward national positioning. - **Papuna Lezhava**: CEO frequently cited in fintech-news coverage of Keepz; Georgian-tech-entrepreneur profile. - **Credo Bank partnership**: Credo Bank (Georgian commercial bank) offers Keepz QR Terminal — bank-fintech partnership model. ## Comparison | Feature | Keepz (GE) | [Chivo QR](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/chivo-qr) (SV) | [Island Pay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/island-pay) (BS) | [HesabPay](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/standards/hesabpay) (AF) | Stripe (US/global) | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Operator | Keepz (Georgian fintech) | Salvadoran state | Island Pay + Mastercard | HesabPay (private) | Stripe Inc. | | Crypto integration | **Deep (BTC/ETH/USDT)** | Bitcoin-native | Sand Dollar CBDC + USD | Algorand blockchain | Limited | | Tax-payment integration | **First in world (Georgia)** | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | | Open Banking | **Yes, first in Georgia** | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | | 24/7 interbank transfer | **Yes, first in Georgia** | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | | Merchants | 20,000+ | Limited | Limited | Limited | Vast | ## Status **Active, dominant Georgian fintech** [1][1], [2][2]: - **Keepz** operator, **Papuna Lezhava** CEO. - **20,000+ merchants**. - **First Open Banking licence** in Georgia. - **Crypto-to-tax-payment** integration (Dec 2024). - **24/7 interbank transfer** (Oct 2025, first in Georgia). - **Credo Bank partnership** (Keepz QR Terminal). ## Sources [1]: https://credobank.ge/en/services/keepz-qr-terminal "Keepz QR Terminal — Credo Bank" [2]: https://thefintechtimes.com/keepz-facilitates-using-digital-currencies-to-pay-for-taxes-in-georgia/ "Keepz × Georgia digital-tax — Fintech Times" [3]: https://georgiatoday.ge/a-fintech-pioneer-from-georgia-country/ "Keepz fintech pioneer — Georgia Today" [financial-it]: https://financialit.net/news/banking/keepz-brings-georgia-its-first-247-instant-bank-bank-transfer-service "Keepz 24/7 instant transfer — Financial IT" [cryptal]: https://cryptal.com/en/blog/cryptal-integrates-keepz-for-instant-balance-top-ups "Cryptal × Keepz" - [1] [Keepz QR Terminal — Credo Bank][1] - [2] [Keepz × Georgia digital-tax payments — Fintech Times][2] - [3] [Keepz fintech pioneer — Georgia Today][3] - [Georgia report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/GE) `reports/countries/GE-georgia.md` ## Deployments Found in the following country reports (grep across `reports/countries/`): - **GE** — [GE-georgia.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/GE)