With 2026 fast approaching, the payments and fintech industry is moving into a more decisive phase. As technology, regulation, and market demand align, the focus has shifted from exploring what might be possible to delivering solutions that are now expected to work at scale.
This reality is clearly reflected in global payment behaviour today. The 2025 Worldpay Global Payments Report shows that digital payment methods now account for nearly two-thirds of global eCommerce transaction value. As alternative payment methods move firmly into the mainstream, expectations around performance, resilience, and scale have fundamentally changed.
Our conversations at the eCommerce Expo in September and FinTech Connect earlier this month brought these changes into sharp focus. Here are seven shifts that will shape payments and fintech in 2026.
1. Execution is replacing experimentation
For much of the last decade, fintech progress has been driven by rapid innovation and experimentation. New ideas, pilot programs, and beta testing have been central to progress.
That mindset is now changing. No longer fringe initiatives, capabilities like embedded finance, platform banking, and digital assets are rapidly becoming core components of a modern payment infrastructure.
Looking ahead to 2026, the key question for providers and merchants will no longer be whether these technologies work, but whether they can be deployed securely, compliantly, and at scale
2. AI is becoming part of core infrastructure
AI has also moved decisively into the mainstream. Across payment operations – including fraud prevention, risk management, and customer onboarding – AI is now embedded deeply into daily operations.
Last year alone, Visa prevented 80 million fraudulent transactions worth $40 billion globally. According to Visa, investments in artificial intelligence played a pivotal role in achieving this outcome.
In 2026, AI will take its place at the heart of payment operations, driving faster decisions, reducing friction, and enabling more intuitive customer journeys.
Meanwhile, trust will remain paramount. The strongest payment solutions will be those that combine AI-powered efficiency with human oversight, ensuring that when exceptions occur, they’re handled with clarity and care.
3. Global commerce is demanding local relevance
Today, merchants increasingly expect payment providers to support local currencies, preferred payment methods, and regional regulatory requirements as standard. Crucially, this level of localization is now directly tied to conversion rates, customer trust, and long-term growth.
Recent global payment research highlights just how high expectations have become:
- An overwhelming 99% of cross-border shoppers want to pay using their preferred local payment method
- 94% of global shoppers expect transactions to be completed in their own currency.
- Merchants that fail to offer localized payment experiences risk losing more than half of potential buyers.
In 2026, local payment methods, currency support, and seamless cross-border experiences will become table stakes. This will require a payment infrastructure that can scale consistently across markets, support local requirements, and maintain customer trust.
4. Expectations at checkout are rising
Customer expectations around other aspects of the payment experience continue to rise. Today’s shoppers move quickly and expect their payment journey to keep pace. They want to buy seamlessly across devices without interruptions, redirects, or unnecessary additional steps.
Research shows that a complicated checkout process accounts for 18% of abandoned carts, highlighting how even small points of friction can derail conversion.
In 2026, reducing checkout friction will be central to meeting customer expectations and protecting growth at scale.
5. The financial ecosystem is becoming more connected
Another clear signal of the changes to come is the growing convergence between banks, fintechs, and other ecosystem players. Progress is increasingly being driven through collaboration.
Banks are accelerating their digital transformation, investing in platform-based models, open APIs, and embedded finance capabilities. Fintechs, meanwhile, are maturing. Resilience, compliance, and scalability are now among their top priorities.
In 2026, success in payments will depend on how effectively organizations can operate within a multifaceted and interconnected ecosystem.
6. Tokenization is moving toward practical application
Discussions about digital assets and tokenization are shifting away from speculation and toward real-world applications.
While adoption will vary across markets, it’s becoming clear that digital assets will play a growing role in the broader payments landscape. In 2026, providers will need to be ready to support these capabilities securely and responsibly.
7. Compliance and resilience are becoming competitive advantages
Today, compliance, transparency, and security are increasingly recognized as foundations for sustainable growth, rather than obstacles.
Heading into 2026, providers that invest in resilient, compliant infrastructure will be better positioned to scale confidently, support their partners, and adapt to ongoing change.
Why these shifts matter for the year ahead
One theme has consistently emerged from industry discussions in 2025: payments are no longer a background function. They sit at the center of customer experience, merchant growth, and platform credibility.
The year ahead will reward those who can balance innovation with responsibility, automation with human support, and global scale with local understanding.
Here at Maayan, these insights closely reflect what we see in our work with merchants every day. As we head into 2026, our focus will remain on delivering payment solutions built on intelligence, confidence, and trust.
A bigger role for direct acquirers in 2026
With the payments ecosystem entering this new phase, choosing the right payment partner will become more important than ever. Working with a direct acquirer that prioritizes reliability, flexibility, and intuitive onboarding will be critical for operating with confidence and scaling with ease. Explore Maayan’s direct acquiring services to learn more.
