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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
As mobile money continues to permeate the financial lives of millions, its economic and commercial impact is becoming undeniable. Payments Cards & Mobile recently reported on the surge of accounts past the 2 billion mark – now we turn our attention to the economic impact.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
Checkout.com has announced an expansion into card issuing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – a move that could reshape the region’s digital payments landscape. The initiative marks the first time a global digital PSP has committed to launching card issuing capabilities domestically in the UAE, signalling a deepened strategic commitment to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
Once a niche alternative to traditional shopping, e-commerce has evolved into a dominant force in global retail – one now poised for another transformational leap. Underpinned by rising smartphone penetration, improved digital infrastructure, and accelerating innovation in fulfilment and payments, the industry could expand from $4 trillion in 2022 to as much as $20 trillion by 2040 according to McKinsey.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
The global mobile money industry has reached a new phase of maturity and scale. According to GSMA’s State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money 2025, the sector surpassed 2.1 billion registered accounts and 514 million monthly active users in 2024, marking a significant acceleration from earlier growth milestones. This evolution signals a transition from financial inclusion enabler to a cornerstone of digital financial ecosystems in low- and middle-income markets.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
Across much of the world, the dominance of card networks in everyday payments is being quietly eroded by a new contender: account-to-account (A2A) instant payments. Systems like Brazil’s Pix and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have demonstrated how real-time bank transfers can lower costs, enhance financial inclusion, and give merchants greater visibility over their cash flow.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
The Asia Pacific region is poised for an extraordinary acceleration in QR code-based payments, with transaction values expected to soar from $290 billion in 2024 to $1.2 trillion by 2029. This 300% surge underscores the region’s growing dominance in digital payments, fuelled by mobile-first infrastructure, financial inclusion efforts, and the limitations of card-based alternatives.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
The ongoing transformation of Latin America’s payments ecosystem is attracting major international players, with alternative payments methods (APMs) such as Pix and digital wallets becoming central to expansion strategies. A new partnership between Spreedly, a leading Open Payments Platform, and EBANX underscores how global merchants are adapting to regional consumer behaviour to drive revenue and scale operations.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
Contactless payments in the UK reached a new milestone in 2024, with 94.6% of all eligible in-store card transactions made using tap-to-pay technology, according to Barclays’ latest Consumer Spend report. This figure marks a new high, up from 93.4% in 2023, and reflects the growing entrenchment of contactless as the default method of in-person card payment.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly declined to oppose the proposed $35 billion merger between Capital One and Discover Financial Services, removing what was seen as the most significant regulatory obstacle to a deal that could reshape the American credit card landscape.
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2 weeks ago | 
paymentscardsandmobile.com | Alex Rolfe
Viva.com has expanded its pan-European activation of Mastercard Move on its payments and banking platform to 24 countries, following the addition of the UK as an additional live origination market. This step enables businesses across 24 European countries to send and receive near-instant payments regardless of currency and geography, enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The demand for near-instant payments is at an all-time high.
