Since dollarization in 2000, Ecuador has operated as a single-currency USD market, and as e-commerce has grown, payment-collection channels connecting consumers outside the banking infrastructure have filled gaps in the payment ecosystem. Zona Pago is introduced as one such local collection channel, but there is a lack of verified public material on which operator runs it and which payment network it is affiliated with. This channel should therefore be treated as a 'candidate under review,' and provider and coverage confirmation must be completed before any contract discussion.

If availability is confirmed, it can be used to broaden collection options for cash-oriented customers; if it cannot be confirmed, it is safer to build your payment mix around already-verified options such as pharmacy chain collection or global wallet-based methods.

If it follows the typical structure of a collection-type channel, the expected flow would be: payment code issued at order time → cash payment at a partner counter → payment confirmed → order finalized. However, Zona Pago's actual payment counters and confirmation system can only be specified after provider verification. This flow description is reference information about a general collection-type payment structure.

The starting point for reviewing adoption is confirming, through consultation with Hecto Financial, whether this channel can be offered at all in Ecuador. We do not recommend setting an integration schedule while availability remains unconfirmed.

• Business registration country

  Confirm contract eligibility based on domestic business registration

• Sales channels

  The integration approach and priority differ depending on your online sales channel mix, such as owned storefronts, open marketplaces, and mobile apps

• Product categories

  You should confirm in advance whether your products fall under categories restricted by Zona Pago's merchant policy

• Local regulatory compliance

  Confirm compliance with Ecuador's payment and foreign exchange regulations (see official sources below)

If adoption is confirmed, the receipt currency is Ecuador's official currency, USD, and merchant settlement is carried out in whichever of USD, KRW, or JPY was designated in the contract. As with other Ecuadorian methods, a USD receipt paired with USD settlement requires no currency conversion, while KRW or JPY settlement is disbursed after conversion. The refund process requires separate guidance once the channel's characteristics are confirmed.

• Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE)Official information on Ecuador's payment system and related regulations. If this page's content differs from the actual regulations, the official source takes precedence.