The payments trends report 2025
A data-led analysis of the key trends shaping payments in 2025, offering clear insight into market shifts, technology adoption, and emerging priorities.
January 13, 2026
A data-led analysis of the key trends shaping payments in 2025, offering clear insight into market shifts, technology adoption, and emerging priorities.
Fi911 launches ResolveLab, giving payfacs rapid plug-and-play access to Mastercard Ethoca tools to stop chargebacks, improve trust and protect revenue.
Exactly.com’s COO Mark Andreev outlines the e-commerce trends shaping 2026, from omnichannel trust and social commerce to AI-driven, agentic shopping.
Equals Money | Railsr has partnered with Okta to secure AI-driven payments, using identity governance and behavioural controls to balance innovation and risk.
ID-Pal has acquired KYB specialist NorthRow to deliver a unified KYC, KYB, and AML intelligence platform with continuous risk monitoring.
Latham & Watkins has launched an interactive tracker providing up-to-date insight into the UK’s fast-evolving cryptoasset regulatory landscape.
BCB Group marks five years of its BLINC network with the launch of BLINC Rewards, recognising clients driving instant settlement growth across crypto and fiat markets.
Agentic AI promises seamless automated payments and hyper-personalised retail, but growth depends on new trust, fraud models and rules for autonomous agents.
Entersekt features as a key contributor to a new Payments Association EU white paper, outlining a risk-based, device-led approach to the future of SCA.
A Spotify Wrapped-style view of personal finances could help users visualise spending, reduce stress, and make smarter money decisions.
IFX Payments hosts an expert-led webinar on fraud, AML and cybersecurity, offering practical insights to help PSPs strengthen defences and prepare for 2026.
SMBs are driving growth in cross-border trade, creating new revenue opportunities for regional banks and credit unions willing to modernise payments.
Bottomline has won Best Digital Forensics Solution at The 2025 Security Awards for its insider threat platform, which detects internal fraud while preserving employee privacy.
As PSD3 approaches, Entersekt shows how banks can meet stricter authentication and fraud rules while turning compliance into stronger security and growth.
Payment fragmentation drains resources and slows growth. A unified payment ecosystem cuts complexity, reduces costs, and gives digital businesses the clarity needed to scale.
Tag Systems UK has named Faten Ben Jemaa as COO, strengthening its digital expansion plans and supporting growth in card services and its emerging card-as-a-service offering.
Seasonal surges strain gift card support teams as volumes rise and errors increase. Automation, clearer guidance and scalable human support help maintain service quality.
Fraud is rising fast and criminals are using AI at scale. UK banks must modernise to real-time, unified fraud and AML defences or risk regulatory, financial and trust failure.
Banks are eager to adopt AI, but payment network compliance is too complex and risky for generic models. Purpose-built solutions avoid data, context and validation pitfalls.
Kani Payments has appointed Andrew Wingfield to strengthen its safeguarding and reporting capabilities ahead of the FCA’s 2026 rules, supporting EMIs and issuers through compliance.
Visa has completed the first UK cVRP using Visa A2A, introducing a modern, protected alternative to Direct Debit and paving the way for more transparent bill payments.
Paysend and Visa are expanding their partnership to offer real-time cross-border payments through Paysend’s Enterprise API, bringing faster, transparent transfers to more businesses.
Payments are shifting toward a multi-rail future where cards, A2A, stablecoins and CBDCs coexist, with consumer choice and digital identity set to shape long-term adoption.
Cleafy has been named a Leader in the 2025 SPARK Matrix for Enterprise Fraud Management, reflecting its rapid growth and predictive, cybersecurity-driven approach to fraud prevention.
TIS and Torus have launched Japan’s first specialised analytics service for issuers and acquirers, helping card businesses improve revenue through clearer cost insights. Read the full press release here: https://www.torusadvisors.com/news/tis-and-torus-launch-profit-improvement-support-service-for-card-issuers-and-acquirers
Cardaq and Corpay have partnered to streamline global expansion for merchants, integrating API-driven FX and real-time settlement into a unified cross-border payments infrastructure.
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Expleo’s new playbook showcases real-world AI case studies that deliver measurable gains in software delivery, data governance and cybersecurity across regulated industries.
VALR has selected OpenPayd to power its multi-currency fiat infrastructure, enabling faster global deposits, withdrawals and settlement across EUR, GBP and USD rails.
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The EU Digital Identity Wallet will reshape verification across Europe, offering new assurance for PSPs, but rollout will be uneven and businesses must prepare for varied adoption.
UK fintechs face rising costs, regulatory pressure and shrinking incentives. Clear priorities on stablecoins, open banking and investment rules are needed to restore momentum.
New FCA proposals to remove contactless limits could transform payments authentication, with major implications for PSPs, banks, and merchants.
Outsourcing customer support during peak seasons helps businesses manage surges in demand, maintain service quality, and ensure resilience through flexible, multilingual, multi-channel support. As the holiday season approaches, companies start
Bottomline’s 2025 report shows banks under pressure from regulation, legacy systems and rising volumes, with SaaS emerging as the key route to compliance, resilience and modernisation.
BCB Group has introduced named USD accounts, allowing clients to send and receive payments under their own brand for greater clarity, security, and ease of use.
Andaria has secured Visa Principal Membership, enabling direct issuing, faster innovation, and multi-scheme flexibility across its growing embedded finance ecosystem.
Regulatory alignment and lighter-touch US rules are opening new routes for cross-border investment and shaping the future of UK-US payments.
New global stablecoin rules are accelerating adoption, shaping demand for US debt, and pressuring the UK to finalise its own framework to stay competitive.
Our Financial Crime 360 report reveals rising fraud risks, uneven tech readiness, regulatory divides, and strong investment ahead.
The Financial Crime 360 report reveals rising fraud risks, uneven tech readiness, regulatory divides, and strong investment ahead.
Agentic AI is reshaping how payments work, creating huge opportunities but forcing providers to adapt fast as new protocols, risks, and standards emerge.
New research from The Payments Association shows confidence in regulation is split, while payments leaders increasingly view AI as the key to tackling financial crime.
The Payments Vision Delivery Committee met to consider its Strategy for Retail Payments Infrastructure and the Payments Forward Plan recently. 1. Strategy for Retail Payments Infrastructure The strategy document has since
UK merchants face their most complex regulatory phase in a decade, with new enforcement powers, fraud rules, and payment reforms reshaping strategy.
UK fraud controls have reduced domestic APP scams, but criminals are shifting to smaller institutions and cross-border channels, making consortium data vital for defence.
As payments become faster and more digital, the industry must balance efficiency with empathy—humanising technology to rebuild trust and real connection.
