The future of global consumer payments in 2030
How adoption of innovation and global cooperation will reshape the payments landscape
By 2030, consumer payments will be transformed by technology and global collaboration—creating seamless, secure, and intelligent experiences. Yet, the pace and nature of change will differ across markets, shaped by how quickly innovation is adopted and the level of international cooperation.
This article is the first in a series, “Global payments in 2030”, aimed at painting a picture of the potential evolution of payments. This article outlines four possible scenarios—each with their own opportunities, challenges, and customer experiences—for how the payments industry could evolve. As change accelerates unevenly across markets, organizations will need to adapt strategies to navigate an increasingly dynamic payments ecosystem.
A framework for the future
The article identifies two main uncertainties—adoption of innovation and global cooperation—leading to four possible futures for payments:
- Utilitarians: Broader market innovation, internally focused
- Soloists: Payments-driven innovation, internally focused
- Plug and Players: Broader market innovation, globally connected and interoperable
- Trendsetters: Payments-driven innovation, globally connected and interoperable
What’s inside the report
- Four future scenarios for global consumer payments
- Primary trends, uncertainties, and implications for market participants
- Data-driven methodology and thought-provoking questions
Additional perspectives on the future of commercial payments and implications for payments ecosystem players will follow as part of this series.
