Gen Z Driving the Shift from Cards to Digital Wallets, New Research from Global Payments Suggests

Key Terms

digital wallets technical

A digital wallet is an app or online service that lets people store and use payment details, identification, loyalty cards, or cryptocurrency on a phone or computer—think of it as a virtual version of a physical wallet that can pay for things, prove identity, or hold digital assets. Investors care because widespread use changes how consumers pay, shifts revenue toward companies that control these payment flows, and introduces technology, security and regulatory risks that can affect profits and valuation.

real-time payments technical

Real-time payments are electronic transfers that move money between bank accounts almost instantly and are available around the clock, unlike traditional overnight or batch transfers. For investors, this matters because faster payments improve a company’s cash flow, reduce the time money sits unpaid, and can change revenue and cost dynamics for banks, payment processors and businesses—think of it like receiving a text message instead of waiting for a letter.

cross-border financial

Activities, transactions, or relationships that involve two or more countries — for example sales, investments, legal contracts, or shipments that cross national borders. For investors it matters because different countries have different rules, taxes, currencies and risks, so cross-border deals can offer bigger markets and diversification but also extra costs, legal complexity and political or currency risk — like driving into a neighboring state with different traffic laws.

mobile payments technical

The use of a smartphone, tablet, wearable or other mobile device to send or receive money, pay for goods or services, or transfer funds electronically instead of using cash or a physical card. Investors care because mobile payments can change how quickly and cheaply companies collect revenue, open new customer channels and data streams, and shift costs and risks (for example from fraud or fees), which can boost or hurt future profits.

tap-to-pay technical

Tap-to-pay is a way to pay by tapping a contactless card, smartphone or wearable on a payment reader so the transaction is completed wirelessly in seconds. For investors, it matters because faster, simpler and more secure payments tend to increase customer purchases, reduce checkout friction and create new revenue or data opportunities for banks, payment processors and retailers — affecting sales, fees and growth prospects.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) announced today that its Worldpay^® business released its 11^th annual Global Payments Report, revealing that Americans remain attached to plastic – even as younger generations are swapping physical wallets for digital.

United States payment methods.

"The Global Payments Report stands as the definitive guide to the evolving payments landscape, offering insights into how consumers and businesses transact across 42 global markets,” said Cameron Bready, chief executive officer of Global Payments. “As digital commerce accelerates and payment preferences diversify, our deep expertise and global reach uniquely position us to help clients navigate emerging trends—from real-time payments to cross-border innovation. With this report, we reaffirm our commitment to leading the industry forward, empowering enterprises and SMBs to thrive in a world where payments are always in motion."

Some notable trends from this year’s study include:

Plastic Preferred — For Now

The U.S. remains one of the world’s most card-led markets:

• In the U.S., direct use of cards accounted for 49% of all online spending and 71% of in‑store spending in 2025¹.

• Globally, direct card usage is strong but accounts for a notably lower share, representing 31% of online and 48% of in-store spending in the same year.

• In APAC, the contrast is even more pronounced with direct use of cards accounting for just 15% of all online spending and 20% of all in-store spending in 2025, less than half the global average and far below the U.S. usage.

• In the U.S. in 2025, people spent twice as much online using credit cards than debit cards, and in stores, credit card spending outpaced debit by 43%.

• However, direct use of cards in the U.S. is forecast to fall online from 49% in 2025 to 43% in 2030, and in-store from 71% in 2025 to 64% in 2030 as people increasingly use their debit and credit cards via digital wallets.

This card‑first behavior sets the U.S. apart from markets where mobile‑based payments have become more widely adopted.

The Rise of Digital Wallets in the U.S.

Even within this card-led landscape, digital wallets continue to gain traction:

• In 2025, digital wallets accounted for 40% of U.S. online spending and 17% of in‑store spending.

• Over the next five years (2025-2030), digital wallet spending is forecast to grow 10% annually across online and in-store.

• By 2030, $4.1 trillion of U.S. spending is projected to take place through a digital wallet, which would represent a 64% increase from 2025.

• Globally, digital wallets already lead, representing 56% of online spending and 33% of in-store spending in 2025.

• In APAC, digital wallets were even more dominant, accounting for 77% of online spending and 62% of in-store spending in 2025.

• Payment apps across channels are forecast to reach $23.4 trillion by 2030, highlighting the scale of the shift toward mobile payments.

Gen Z Leads in Digital Wallet Adoption

• Younger consumers are driving much of the shift toward mobile payments in the U.S.: digital wallets are already the most used online payment method for 39% of 18–24-year-olds and 41% of 25–34-year-olds.²

• While younger generations lead the way, online wallet use is increasingly broad-based: wallets were cited as used most frequently by 33% of 35-44-year-olds to lead that demographic. Digital wallets are the go-to choice when shopping online for 9% of respondents 65+.

As Gen Z matures, their digital first preferences will likely accelerate the long-term shift from plastic to mobile-first payments in everyday U.S. commerce.

“While cards still anchor U.S. spending today, the future of commerce is being shaped by younger consumers,” said Bob Cortopassi, president and chief operating officer of Global Payments. “For Gen Z, digital wallets and tap-to-pay experiences are already the norm. As their spending power grows, the way they pay today is a window into the future of payments.

“The future belongs to businesses that understand how their customers want to pay. As expectations shift toward choice and flexibility, merchants must evolve their payment systems to serve every demographic – and those that do will unlock the next wave of growth.”

To download the full report, visit: https://worldpay.com/en/global-payments-report

Global Payments completed its acquisition of Worldpay in January 2026.

About The Global Payments Report (GPR)

Published continuously since 2015, the GPR offers a snapshot of today’s payments landscape: globally, by region and in 42 select markets. The report tracks consumer payments when shopping online and at the point of sale, identifies key payment trends, and projects future scenarios for payment method shares as well as market size. Methodology can be found on page 156 of the report.

About Global Payments

Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) is a leading payment technology and software company that powers commerce for businesses of all sizes worldwide. We help businesses grow with confidence by delivering innovative solutions that enable seamless payment acceptance, smarter operations and exceptional client experiences – online, in store and everywhere in between. With its global reach, local expertise and scale, Global Payments manages trillions in payments volume and billions of transactions across more than 175 countries. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Global Payments is a Fortune 500^® company and a member of the S&P 500. Learn more at company.globalpayments.com.

¹ Methodology can be found on page 156 of the report.
² These generational insights are supported by GlobalData’s 2025 Financial Services Consumer Survey of 63,441 consumers across 42 markets conducted in Q2 2025.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331165747/en/

Investor Contact:
Nate Rozof
investor.relations@globalpay.com

Media Contact:
Matt Cochran
media.relations@globalpay.com

Source: Global Payments Inc.