Mastercard Signals Report Looks at the Future of Payments by 2030
In the latest Mastercard Signals published titled “Racing Toward the Future of Payments,” the 2025 first-quarter report looks at how the payments industry continues to evolve. New technology, consumer and business heightened expectations and the expansions of new systems will continue to shape the payments ecosystem by 2030. Mastercard said these various trends aren’t isolated but should be seen as an interconnected “roadmap” for the evolution of payments in the next five years.
The first trend sees payments becoming globally interoperable; the system as a whole is fragmented with platforms operating independently, especially with cross-border and cross-platform transactions.
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The report’s authors predict by 2030, shared global standards and technological innovation will create a world where payments flow across platforms, currencies and borders to create secure, invisible transactions — where consumers and businesses can make transactions across borders, currencies and platforms.
Another notable trend is how payment wallets will evolve to become a digital command center. Artificial intelligence-driven personalization and integration with identity and financial management tools to transform wallets into the major hub for daily life.
Between 2025 and 2030, digital wallets are set to evolve into becoming more intelligent and proactive assistants capable of managing consumers’ finances, travel, health records, subscriptions and more — merging the worlds of the physical and the digital together.
Notably, millions of small businesses lack the ability to accept digital payments and inconvenient checkout friction is the leading cause of e-commerce cart abandonment. This expanding technology to allow more payment acceptance and make quicker checkout is beneficial for both merchants and consumers, in-person and online.
Now more than ever, businesses are turning to e-commerce digital platforms to establish their virtual store front — Shopify saw 5 percent growth in 2024, Squarespace had a 7 percent increase and 13 percent growth at Wix.
Leading technologies from “Tap From Phone” with contactless cards or digital wallets, “Click to Pay” and passkeys to artificial intelligence-powered checkouts are helping to democratize payment acceptance to power a more personalized and “no-checkout experience.”
“We’re going to see democratization of acceptance across three planes: more merchants entering the ecosystem, more types of payments accepted and an increase in the number of technology partners involved,” said Jennifer Marriner, executive vice president of global acceptance solutions at Mastercard. “This will create a more inclusive and innovative commercial environment and a better experience for consumers.”
While payment partnerships typically occur between banks and fintech, Mastercard envisions the incorporation of a variety of players getting involved to create a more inclusive and interconnected commerce space.
Others who are getting involved include internet service providers, governments and their agencies, crypto companies, social media platforms, telecoms and other innovators. Already governments of the U.K., Argentina, Europe and Chile have allowed fintech companies to offer payment services to businesses without requiring a banking license.
The report proposes that the creation of collaborative ecosystems will be a major driver in the creation of integrating embedded finance and enabling lower-friction, inclusive and cross-platform solutions for both businesses and consumers.
“The challenges ahead are as significant as they are exciting,” said Ken Moore, chief innovation officer of Mastercard. “Success belongs to those who not only have a keen eye on the road ahead, but also the agility to adapt to a fast-changing environment. It’s a team endeavor more than ever before. By embracing innovation, navigating complexities and prioritizing inclusivity, we can accelerate toward a future where payments drive global prosperity.”
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