According to the 10th edition of the World Report on World Payments, payment landscapes change quickly, because what was called alternative payments now explain most online spending worldwide.
As one of the most transformative innovations in technological history, the smartphone has reshaped global consumer payments. Whether in store, traveling or at home, smartphones are now at the center of the new era of unified trade.
Although the first models of mobile phones existed in the 1990s, the launch of the iPhone in 2007 and Android in 2008 sparked an unprecedented vague adoption. In 2007, global sales of smartphones amounted to 122 million units, according to Statista. In 2014, sales increased to more than 1.2 billion.
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However, the role of the smartphone as a dominant payment tool did not materialize overnight. At the start of mobile electronic commerce, users could travel products on their phones, but had to finalize purchases on desktop computers or laptops. Over time, technological improvements, increased network bandwidth and mobile optimized purchasing experiences have paved the way for the widespread use of smartphones in transactions.
Between 2014 and 2024, the world’s electronic commerce mobile share tripled from 19% to 57%. By 2030, mobile should take into account almost two thirds (64%) of electronic commerce on the 40 markets covered in the 2025 global report.
The impact of mobile payments on people in person has been even more dramatic. Digital payments, including transfers of account accounts (A2A), to buy now, to pay later (BNPL) and mobile wallets – have experienced rapid adoption. Their share of the total value of point of sale (POS) increased from only 3% in 2014 to 38% in 2024. By 2030, it is expected that 53% of the purchase value in person approximately 25 billions of dollars will be treated via mobile devices.
While smartphones manufacturers continue to open their systems to third -party payments, competition in mobile payments will result in additional innovation. The smartphone will remain a dominant force in the landscape of payments for the years to come.
The decline of money in a digital world
The rise of digital payments has an opposite effect on the constant drop in cash. While the demand for liquidity persists, its role in the World Payment Ecosystem is shrinking. Ten years ago, cash represented 44% of global spending on the point of sale, representing just over 16 billions of dollars. The use varied according to the American consumer region based on species for only 20% of POS transactions, while in the Middle East and Africa, it represented 82%.
Despite its widespread use, Cash was in a downward trajectory. Its share of the global value of POS transactions increased from 44% in 2014 to 26% in 2019. The COVVI-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, which leads to mass adoption of contactless and digital payments. By 2024, the use of Treasury in POS is estimated at only 15% of the value of transactions, a drop in the third compared to 2014 and a reduction of 10.5 billions of dollars.
Several factors have contributed to the drop in cash. It is subject to loss and theft, often embarrassing for significant purchases, and expensive to manage. Consumers have turned more and more to faster, safer and more efficient payment alternatives such as cards, mobile wallets and A2A transactions.
Despite his decline, Cash still has solid defenders. Some consumers prefer their privacy and their tangible nature for financial management. Traders, especially small businesses, often promote species to reduce payments processing costs. Governments, in particular in Europe, have introduced regulations to ensure that cash is available, recognizing its role in financial inclusion.
In particular, the legislation obliging cash acceptance has been promulgated in Denmark, France, and certain parts of the American governments around the world also explore innovations such as the digital currencies of the Central Bank (CDC) to modernize species. Although the adoption of CBCs remains limited, they could serve as digital complements in physical cash rather than complete replacements – at least until they can operate effectively offline.
Ahead
From online transactions to purchases in person, digital payments continue to redefine trade worldwide. While mobile payments dominate and the cash flows its decrease, the world ecosystem of payments undergoes one of the most important transformations in history.
