Cambodia Revokes Payment Firm License Amid Unlicensed Platform Scrutiny

PHNOM PENH, Sept 14, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia’s central bank has revoked the license of a payment service provider and appointed a liquidator to oversee customer repayments, days after warning of an unlicensed platform exploiting the country’s national QR payment brand. The National Bank of Cambodia said it cancelled the license of Tian Xu International Technology on August 3 under applicable laws and regulations. The firm had been licensed as a payment service institution since May 2024. Morison Kak MKA was appointed liquidator under Article 68 of the Law on Banking and Financial Institutions, with repayments to be handled according to the legal order of priority. The notice did not specify reasons for the revocation or the scale of customer funds involved. The move followed a warning over khqr.cc, a website the bank said was running an unauthorised merchant payment platform using KHQR branding. Officials stressed the site had no licence to operate in Cambodia’s payment system and said authorities were addressing the risk. Cambodia has promoted KHQR internationally as an interoperable digital payment system, part of efforts to position itself as a regional fintech hub. Central bank governor Chea Serey was recently awarded an “A‑” grade by Global Finance magazine in its 2026 Central Banker Report Cards, her third consecutive year receiving the rating. The back‑to‑back actions come amid international scrutiny of technology‑enabled financial crime in Cambodia. Officials say crackdowns on cyber scams are aimed at reassuring foreign investors during trade and investment promotion events in China this month. The central bank urged the public to verify the licensing status of financial institutions and platforms through its official website before conducting transactions.