eSewa Enters 17th Year: Celebrating 16 Years of Leading Nepal’s Digital Payment Revolution
25th January 2026, Kathmandu
Nepal’s pioneer and leading payment service provider, eSewa, has officially entered its 17th year of operation. After launching its beta version in 2009 and starting formal services on January 25, 2010, eSewa has completed a landmark 16-year journey, evolving from a simple digital wallet to a comprehensive fintech ecosystem for Nepalese citizens.
eSewa Enters 17th Year
Operating under the core slogan “Sabai, Sadhaun, Sangai” (Everyone, Always, Together), eSewa has been instrumental in making financial transactions simple, secure, and accessible. Today, it stands as an essential digital platform for daily life, offering services ranging from mobile top-ups and utility bill payments to flight bookings, insurance, investments, and more.
A Vision for Innovation and Inclusion
During a special program organized on the occasion of its 17th Anniversary and Innovation Day, eSewa Chairman Parshuram Kunwar Chhetri expressed the company’s commitment to excellence.
“We are dedicated to making eSewa’s services even more superior, secure, and reliable. By collaborating with regulators, users, and stakeholders, we aim to contribute positively to society through the expansion of digital financial services,” said Chhetri.
CEO Jagdish Khadka highlighted eSewa’s competitive edge on a global scale. “Today, we are established as a fintech company capable of competing globally. This achievement is not a destination but a foundation for future innovations. We are constantly innovating to meet user needs and contribute to the ‘Digital Nepal’ vision,” Khadka added.
3 New Features Launched for the 17th Anniversary
To mark this milestone, eSewa has introduced three user-centric features designed to enhance accessibility and convenience for Nepalese users:
1. eSewa TalkBack: Empowering Visually Impaired Users
eSewa has become the first payment service provider in Nepal to launch a TalkBack feature.
How it works: This feature converts on-screen text into voice, allowing visually impaired or low-vision users to identify buttons and navigate the app independently. Languages: Available in both English and Nepali, promoting true digital financial inclusion.
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2. Intent-Based Payment: Faster & Seamless Transactions
The new Intent-Based Payment system simplifies the checkout process on merchant websites and apps.
The Benefit: Users no longer need to manually enter MPINs, passwords, or OTPs.
The Process: By clicking “Pay with eSewa,” the app opens directly, and payment is authorized via device-level authentication (Fingerprint or Face ID), reducing transaction failures and saving time.
3. eSewa Circle Chat: Socializing Financial Transactions
Building on the “eSewa Circle” feature, a new Chat functionality has been added.
Key Features: Users can now add friends, create groups, share bills, send gifts, and react to transactions within the app.
The Goal: This eliminates the need to switch to third-party messaging apps for discussing shared expenses, making group payments more organized and interactive.
The Road Ahead
Over the past 16 years, eSewa has transitioned from a digital payment startup to a cornerstone of the Nepalese economy. Moving forward, the company has pledged to continue its focus on financial inclusion and technological innovation, ensuring that every segment of the Nepalese population can participate in the digital economy securely and effortlessly.
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