Six Global Trends Set To Transform How We Pay In 2026, According To Mastercard

Mastercard has identified six major trends that will shape the way people and businesses pay in 2026, as digital payments evolve from simply being faster to becoming smarter, safer and more deeply embedded in everyday life.

Drawn from Mastercard's global insights, the trends highlight how advances in artificial intelligence, digital identity, real-time payments and new payment rails are transforming money movement, building trust and opening fresh opportunities for innovation across markets worldwide.

Securing agentic commerce: Generative AI is moving from recommendations to real action - with AI agents starting to initiate and complete transactions on behalf of consumers and businesses. In 2026, the focus will be on building the guardrails around this "agentic commerce": verifying that an AI agent is legitimate, strengthening authentication, reducing fraud, and capturing intent when something goes wrong. You can automate payments, but trust must still be designed and managed.

Connecting crypto to mainstream commerce: Regulatory clarity around stablecoins in key markets is enabling the financial sector to explore more practical use cases - from payouts into stablecoin wallets to on-chain purchases and more efficient cross-border settlement. As these rails mature, consumers and businesses will begin to experience faster, more flexible ways to move money between traditional and digital assets, with safety and compliance built in.

Doubling down on digital identity: With the majority of global consumers targeted by online scams over the past year, stronger digital identity has become essential to the growth of the digital economy. In 2026, digital identity wallets and verified digital credentials will help people prove who they are more quickly and securely - whether accessing financial services, confirming age or conducting higher-value transactions - while also helping platforms verify who they are dealing with.

Supporting the Shift Toward More Sustainable Consumption: Younger generations are accelerating the shift towards a circular economy built on reuse, resale and repair. Payments will increasingly support "regenerative loops" - from deposit-and-return models to refill schemes and peer-to-peer payments that reward sustainable choices. Micro-transactions and seamless digital journeys will make it as easy to return and reuse as it is to buy something new.

Personalizing payments, benefits and risk: Payments and banking are becoming more tailored to individual needs. In the coming year, consumers will gain more control over how they pay - for example, choosing different credentials or rules for everyday spending versus large purchases - while benefiting from more relevant offers and financial guidance. At the same time, richer data and advanced analytics will help lenders better serve small businesses and people with limited credit histories.

Enabling the instant economy for everyone, everywhere: Real-time payment infrastructures are rapidly expanding. In-store, biometric and contactless experiences will continue to streamline checkout online, one-click payments will be powered by the global rollout of tokenization, which replaces static card details with secure tokens. For businesses, new processing capabilities that support real-time clearing and same-day settlement will free up working capital. Cross-border payments will also become faster and more transparent, helping small businesses reach customers around the world.

As digital payments continue to evolve globally, Mastercard remains committed to driving innovation that makes transactions smarter, safer, and more inclusive. By working with partners across markets - from established economies to fast-growing hubs like Azerbaijan - we aim to deliver payment experiences that empower people and businesses to thrive in an increasingly connected world.