Khalti and IME Pay, two of Nepal’s leading digital wallets, have reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for their merger. While official confirmation is yet to be made, multiple sources suggest that the agreement was formalized yesterday. If true, this would mark a significant shift in Nepal’s fintech sector. In this article we will discuss more about the Khalti and IME Pay merger
Khalti and IME Pay Merger Rumors
New Entity Name and Leadership
The merged platform is expected to be named either IME Khalti or Khalti Pay, though no final decision has been announced. While reports indicate that the Board of Directors (BOD) and CEO have been finalized, financial structuring and share distribution details remain unclear.
Market Competition and Financial Standing
Nepal’s digital payment industry is currently dominated by eSewa, which holds an 80% market share. Khalti, with 4 million subscribers, primarily focuses on mobile payments, while IME Pay specializes in remittance services.
Despite IME Pay having a higher paid-up capital of Rs 300 million compared to Khalti’s Rs 50 million, Khalti is believed to have a larger market share. If the merger proceeds, it could strengthen their competitive position against eSewa.
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Regulatory Compliance
The rumored merger aligns with Nepal Rastra Bank’s (NRB) revised Transaction and Settlement Bylaw, 2077, which allows digital wallet consolidations. If confirmed, this would be the first merger under the new regulation.
Ownership and Stakeholders
Khalti was founded by Amit Agarwal, Dhruv Adhikari, Arvind Shah, and Manish Modi. In 2078 BS, Worldlink acquired a 40% stake in Khalti, boosting its market position. Until an official announcement is made, it remains uncertain whether Khalti and IME Pay will merge.
