Below is your upbeat road‑map to snapping up Bitcoin straight from your ABA account—legally aware, step‑by‑step, and laser‑focused on what really works in Cambodia right now.

Quick‑Look Summary

ABA Pay is Cambodia’s most popular QR/bank‑transfer rail. Three big global P2P platforms—Binance, OKX, and Bybit—all list “ABA Bank/ABA Pay” as an accepted payment method, and traders post buy‑and‑sell ads in both US dollars and riel (KHR). Although the government blocked the websites of foreign exchanges in December 2024, the mobile apps still function, so Cambodians continue to fund P2P deals by scanning an ABA Pay QR or making a 30‑second ABA Mobile transfer. As an alternative, the locally regulated Royal Group Exchange (RGX) lets you move money in from ABA under the SERC “FinTech Sandbox.” 🌟

1. Know Your Tool: What is ABA Pay?

ABA Pay is a QR‑code feature inside ABA Mobile that pushes funds straight from your ABA current or savings account with instant settlement—no top‑ups or cards needed  . It also generates a personal KHQR that other Cambodians (or you!) can scan to receive money  . Think of it as Cambodia’s lightning‑fast “bank transfer meets QR.”

2. Legal Reality Check

* Crypto trading on un‑licensed exchanges has been illegal since the joint NBC/SERC statement of 2018, and the Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia blocked 16 exchange websites (including Binance, Coinbase and OKX) on 3 December 2024  .

* The blocks hit only the domains—the iOS/Android apps still connect over the internet, so P2P desks remain busy  .

* Regulators are drafting a licensing framework, and RGX already operates in a supervised sandbox  .

Translation: Use P2P at your own risk, keep meticulous records, and watch for SERC licence news.

3. Where ABA Pay Is Accepted for Bitcoin

Platform	How ABA Pay/Bk Transfer Shows Up	Typical Spread	Notes
Binance P2P	Payment filter “ABA Bank” or “Bank Transfer (Cambodia)”	~0.4–1.2 %	Highest liquidity; site blocked, app works
OKX P2P	Payment filter “ABA Bank” on USD/KHR order books	~0.6–1.5 %	Zero platform fee
Bybit P2P	“ABA” or “KHQR” listed among >600 methods	~0.8–1.6 %	Supports direct KHR books
Royal Group Exchange (RGX)	Direct ABA deposit/withdraw in sandbox	Varies	Only BTC/USDT pairs; still pilot

4. Step‑by‑Step: Buying BTC on Binance with ABA Pay (works similarly on OKX/Bybit)

4.1 Get Ready

1. Install the mobile app via App Store or APK; skip the blocked website  .
2. KYC: Passport or Cambodian ID takes ≈5 minutes.
3. Add ABA Pay under P2P → ··· → Payment Settings → Add New → ABA Bank  .

4.2 Find an Offer

1. Tap P2P ↔ Buy → BTC (or USDT).
2. Filter Currency = USD or KHR; Payment = ABA Bank  .
3. Pick a merchant with >95 % completion, enter the amount (e.g., $100).

4.3 Pay with ABA Pay

1. Order opens ➜ you see seller’s ABA account number / KHQR.
2. Open ABA Mobile → Transfer/Scan QR → Paste or Scan; confirm exact amount + order ref.
3. Hit “Transferred, notify seller” in Binance P2P; wait for auto‑escrow to release BTC (5‑15 min)  .

4.4 Swap to BTC & Withdraw

1. If you bought USDT first (liquidity is bigger), go Trade → Convert → USDT→BTC.
2. Withdraw to your own wallet (hardware or mobile) for long‑term safety.

5. Fee & Timing Snapshot

• ABA Pay transfer: 0 KHR fee; 24/7 instantaneous  .
• P2P platform fee: 0 % maker/taker on both Binance and OKX; Bybit likewise  .
• Spread: 0.4–1.6 % above global mid‑price depending on time of day and amount (check order book).
• FX: If you fund in KHR and settle in USD, ABA internal FX applies  .

6. Safety & Pro Tips

• Escrow‑only: Always trade inside the app so funds are locked until the seller confirms.
• Record‑keeping: Screenshot ABA receipt + P2P chat for future tax queries.
• Small test trade first (e.g., $10) to check the seller’s speed.
• Avoid third‑party brokers unless you meet in daylight and count cash; Reddit reports 1–2 % cash‑desk fees in Phnom Penh’s Chinatown  .
• Watch your limits: ABA’s daily outward transfer cap is normally $20 k unless you raise it in‑branch.

7. FAQ

Q: Can I pay straight in riel?

A: Yes—OKX and Bybit both list KHR order books, and many Binance ads quote price in KHR as well  .

Q: What if the website stays blocked?

A: The mobile apps are unaffected; if you must log in by browser, a standard VPN restores access, but using it is at your own risk under Cambodian law  .

Q: Could RGX replace P2P soon?

A: SERC has signalled it wants licensed domestic ramps, and RGX is already onboarding ABA clients inside the sandbox  .

Final Spark

Buying Bitcoin with ABA Pay is fast, cheap, and entirely smartphone‑based—an entrepreneurial loophole that Cambodians are using daily despite the regulatory headwinds. If you stay disciplined on KYC, escrow safety, and record‑keeping, you’ll be stacking sats in less time than it takes to finish a cardio warm‑up. Keep hustling, keep lifting, and let your financial PRs hit new one‑rep‑max heights! 🚀💪