NFC World

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. According to the GSMA State of the Industry Report on […]

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. Checkout.com card issuing in the UAE The initiative marks the first time a global digital PSP has committed to launching card issuing capabilities domestically in the UAE, signalling a deepened

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. E-commerce’s global growth trajectory 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

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

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. Instant payments – slow to take off in US? Systems like Brazil’s Pix and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have demonstrated how real-time bank transfers can lower costs, enhance financial

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. QR code payments surge reaching $1.2tn This 300% surge underscores the region’s growing dominance in digital payments, fuelled by mobile-first infrastructure, financial inclusion efforts, and

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. UK contactless payments surge This figure marks a new high, up from 93.4% in 2023, and reflects the growing entrenchment of contactless as the default

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. Global players embrace alternative payments A new partnership between Spreedly, a leading Open Payments Platform, and EBANX underscores how global merchants are adapting to regional consumer

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. Capital One – Discover merger clears key DOJ In a confidential

Digital payment systems that use artificial intelligence or AI are changing the payment business at a time when technology is changing quickly. AI in the payments industry In order to better spot scams and make deals go more rapidly, AI is changing how payments are processed. This proactive method raises safety, effectiveness, and precision by