Electronic money (e-money) is a payment instrument that contains monetary value that is paid in advance by the user to the e-money issuer. The user of e-money can make payments for purchases of goods and services to merchants who accept the e-money as payment. E-money can be issued in different forms, such as card-based (e.g. prepaid card) and network-based e-money which may be accessed through the internet, mobile phones or other devices.