TOKYO/SINGAPORE/BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR — Making payments by scanning QR codes with smartphones is expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia, with countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia leading the growth in transactions.
QR payments took off in the developing region a few years ago due to low levels of bank account ownership, few ATM networks in rural areas and the advent of low-cost smartphones. This trend has spread in part due to the introduction of tourism services and cross-border connections.