Southeast Asia runs on QR code payments - but if you're a tourist, digital nomad, or expat, you're likely stuck using cash, overpaying with cards, or hitting ATM fees just to get around.

In this episode of the Efani Features Podcast, host Mark Kreitzman talks with Walid Mah’d, CEO of Moreta Pay, about how his startup is helping travelers tap into local payment networks across Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and beyond - without needing a local bank account.

Inspired by real problems faced while working in payments (and backpacking across Asia), Walid co-founded Moreta Pay to bridge the gap between Western travelers and Asia’s rapidly digitizing payment infrastructure.

🌏 Inside the episode:

• Why QR code payments dominate Southeast Asia - and why credit cards won’t cut it
• The problems with local banking laws, visa restrictions, and expat-unfriendly policies
• How Moreta Pay lets you scan-to-pay in local currency, with zero ATM or card surcharges
• Use cases for short-term tourists, digital nomads, retirees, and remote workers
• App onboarding: Load funds in minutes with Apple Pay, credit/debit card, or U.S. bank account
• Where it works today (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos) - and what’s coming next (Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan)
• How personal QR code payments and peer-to-peer transfers are being added soon
• The role of Y Combinator in backing Moreta Pay, and what it means for user trust and global expansion

Walid also shares why user feedback goes straight to the top - and how he personally responds to messages to help shape the product in real time.

💬 “We want to build something people want - and that means listening to every traveler, every expat, every retiree trying to live cashless across Asia.” – Walid Mah’d

📲 Download Moreta Pay: https://moretapay.com
🔐 Secure your mobile identity: https://efani.com
🎙 Hosted by Mark Kreitzman, General Manager at Efani