Nepal, Jan. 8 -- 98.43 trillion Nepali rupees. That is the total value of digital transactions that have taken place in the fiscal year 2024-25. The availability of cheaper smart gadgets along with affordable data packs has enabled non-currency digital transactions for everyday public utility services. Digital payments across the Asia-Pacific region have surged ahead of those in North America, supported by government-led efforts to expand financial inclusion and develop mobile-first financial infrastructure. Invented by Masahiro Hara of Japan in 1994, financial technology using the QR code system gained popularity over time with the launch of Google Wallet (now Google Pay), Apple Pay, WeChat Wallet and the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)...