Cards & Payments Market Report 2026

The cards & payments market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.14 trillion in 2025 to $1.23 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of card-based consumer spending, expansion of e-commerce platforms, increasing smartphone penetration, rising merchant acceptance of digital payments, development of global payment networks.

The cards & payments market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.76 trillion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for real-time payments, expansion of embedded finance solutions, growing adoption of open banking frameworks, rising focus on seamless cross-border transactions, increasing use of data-driven payment analytics. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of digital and mobile payments, rising use of virtual and contactless cards, growing integration of AI-based fraud detection, expansion of cross-border payment solutions, enhanced focus on omnichannel payment experiences.

The growth of the e-commerce industry is expected to propel the expansion of the cards and payments market in the coming years. E-commerce refers to the purchase and sale of goods and services through online platforms. Cards and payment solutions form the foundation of e-commerce by enabling secure, fast, and reliable online transactions for businesses and consumers. As online shopping continues to gain traction, the demand for card-based and digital payment methods rises accordingly. For example, in August 2023, according to the United States Census Bureau, a US-based government agency, e-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2023 increased by 7.5% compared to the same period in 2022, while overall retail sales grew by only 0.6%. Additionally, online transactions accounted for 15.4% of total retail sales during the second quarter of 2023. Therefore, the expansion of the e-commerce industry is driving growth in the cards and payments market.

Major companies operating in the cards and payments market are increasingly introducing innovative products, such as digital checking accounts and enhanced debit cards, to strengthen their competitive position. These digital checking accounts and debit cards are characterized by online accessibility, advanced security features, seamless integration with digital financial tools, and greater user customization. For instance, in October 2023, Experian PLC, an Ireland-based data analytics and consumer credit reporting company, launched the Experian Smart Money digital checking account and debit card. This offering includes Experian Boost, a feature designed to help improve users’ FICO credit scores by recording eligible payments and adding them to their credit profiles. The digital checking account is targeted at consumers seeking a streamlined financial solution that supports credit improvement and overall financial well-being through value-added features.

In August 2025, Marqeta, Inc., a US-based provider of modern card issuance and embedded finance solutions, acquired TransactPay Limited for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Marqeta aims to expand and strengthen its card program management and digital payments capabilities across the United Kingdom and the European Union. This move enables Marqeta’s customers to scale more efficiently across these regions. TransactPay Limited is a Gibraltar-based BIN sponsorship provider and licensed e-money institution that offers e-money issuance and payment services throughout the UK and the European Economic Area.

Major companies operating in the cards & payments market are Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated, American Express Company, PayPal Holdings Inc., Apple Inc., Fiserv Inc., Global Payments Inc., Stripe Inc., Adyen N.V., Block Inc., Worldline S.A., Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., Banco Santander S.A., China Construction Bank Corporation, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, JPMorgan Chase and Co., Citigroup Inc., BNY Mellon, PayU, Checkout.com.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the cards and payments market in 2025. Western Europe was the second largest region in the card and payments market. The regions covered in the cards & payments market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cards & payments market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The cards and payments market consists of revenues earned by entities that are engaged in storing, processing and transmitting payment card data, and facilitating payment transfers between individuals, companies or both. The payments industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in processing money transfers and payments between various accounts. This market covers issuing and acquiring banks, card processing and issuing companies and others. Revenue generated from the cards and payments market includes all processing and service fees levied by banks and financial institutions for payments processing and for processing card-based payments. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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