Nepal’s two leading digital wallets Khalti and IME Pay have started their integrated operation from Shrawan 01, 2082 as Khalti by IME as its new name. The two entities reportedly signed a merger deal a few months ago and after the approval by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), they have begun a new journey which sets a new precedent in Nepal’s fintech industry.
Both obtained approval from Nepal Rastra Bank and the Office of the Company Registrar a while ago. The two will announce their beginning at a special ceremony. Both have likewise, shared their new logo on social media platforms.
Following their merger, the new app is called Khalti by IME. If you have been a user of either of these apps, you might have seen that the new update is already available on apps store from Google and Apple.
Khalti-IME Pay start user migration
As unified operation begins, both Khalti and IME Pay will now start user migration for the next few months. IME Pay users will have a choice to integrate to Khalti by giving their approval.
Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)’s Payment and Settlement Bylaw 2077 has made arrangements for a digital wallet merger. Khalti and IME Pay are merging in accordance with the same provision.
Check out: Top Digital Wallets in Nepal | Latest 2025
Khalti-IME Pay merger is a mega deal
Khalti-IME Pay merger is huge and ambitious and it could significantly affect Nepal’s fintech market. Khalti and IME Pay are both leading digital wallets. But their merger creates an even bigger market player in one form. Khalti could as well become a top digital wallet in Nepal.
As of now, eSewa is Nepal’s top digital wallet in terms of user base. It has 8 million users. IME Pay and Khalti are said to have 5 million and 4 million users, respectively. So, by this account, IME Khalti will boast the largest customer base for any digital wallet in Nepal. Recently, Khalti reached 5 million downloads on Play Store. Its a testament to its huge popularity and acceptance among users.
Check out: Limit of digital payment/transaction in Nepal
IME Pay app to close by Kartik 30, 2082
Khalti by IME has notified that IME Pay app will be closed down on Kartik 30, 2082. Therefore, in a notice, the company requested the users to migrate their account to the unified account by the end of Kartik or those accounts won’t be operational.
Conclusion
Khalti and IME Pay were the two leading mobile payment apps in Nepal before their merger. They are licensed payment service providers (PSPs) of Nepal. Their merger will make it Nepal’s largest digital wallet in the integrated form of Khalti. It will also give a major competition to eSewa which is currently the largest market player in the country.
There are dozens of digital wallets in Nepal with only a few making it big. As Khalti by IME starts transactions, it’s likely to give Nepal’s fintech market a new dimension. So, it will be interesting to see how the market evolves when the ‘new’ Khalti platform finally starts its active operation.
Also recommended: How to Pay NEA Electricity Bill Online From Khalti?
What’s your opinion on Khalti by IME starting starting its integrated operation? Is it going to disrupt the digital wallet market in Nepal? Do share your opinion in the comment section below.
