Paying It Forward: Five Payments Trends to Keep Watching in 2025

Another year, another step closer to making payments truly borderless, instantaneous and secure. Modern, digital-led payment experiences have become the majority preference as cash finds its floor and checks become increasingly obsolete. Virtually every industry has embraced the advantages and growing popularity of digital solutions, partnering with fintechs to build the experiences of the future. And the race is on to keep breaking down barriers to more seamless transactions—from deterring payment fraud with help from A.I. to eliminating user friction by embedding financial technology directly into popular platforms. As Onbe wraps up a year marked by change, growth and innovative solutions across the payments landscape, we look ahead to 2025 and the continued evolution of these five payment trends shaping our industry:

The rise of embedded finance

From financing point-of-sale purchases in seconds to paying for ride-hailing services with the tap of a button, so many of life’s conveniences depend on embedded payments—so it’s easy to see why 42% of consumers want more of their day-to-day transactions to be embedded within the digital services they rely on. Beyond convenience, embedded payments minimize the need to share data between platforms and utilize features like real-time data validation for safer transactions. As security threats keep rising worldwide, Visa predicts that 74% of digital payments will be made through embedded payment services by 2030. 

The continued expansion of real-time payments

2024 was a big year for U.S. domestic instant payment rails—the virtual networks enabling payments to be sent and received in real time. The FedNow Service expanded to more than 1,000 participating financial institutions. The Real Time Payments (RTP) network reported that over 750 financial institutions now send and receive instant transactions totaling $69 billion each quarter. And the majority of Americans have used instant or faster payments within the last twelve months. Real-time payments bring enhanced security, payment status transparency, messaging capabilities and a host of other benefits that both businesses and consumers should expect to see more of in 2025.

Cross-border payment advances

International payments have long been synonymous with high costs, complexity, and frustrating delays—but will 2025 mark the definitive turning point? Payment methods ranging from virtual cards to real-time transfers are making cross-border payments faster and simpler. Advances in financial technology are reaching maturity, with capabilities like AI and blockchain enabling more secure and transparent transfers. And change is in the air—for instance, all eurozone payment providers must enable instant payments by October of next year, according to the European Union's new Instant Payments Regulation, setting a precedent for cross-border transfers. 

More sustainable payments

With more businesses and financial institutions taking action to reduce their environmental impact, green payment solutions are becoming the standard. In the disbursements space, Onbe is a driving force behind the popularity of sustainable, digital payment options like virtual cards. Digital choices keep paper and plastic out of landfills, enable businesses to reduce their carbon emissions by paying more efficiently, and align with evolving consumer preferences—so we expect these payment trends to keep gaining traction in 2025. 

Digital wallets boost financial inclusion

Digital wallets don't just permit consumers to use their credit and debit cards more securely and conveniently. They enable the seamless use of prepaid cards, putting economic participation directly in the hands of underserved consumers by enabling secure mobile transactions regardless of banking status. Globally, the number of digital wallet users is projected to rise from 4.3 billion in 2024 to 5.8 billion by 2029, a 35% increase over the next five years. In 2025 and beyond, more businesses are likely to embrace digital wallets as a secure and convenient alternative to cash—promoting greater financial inclusion worldwide.

Stay on top of consumer payment trends

As you plan your disbursement strategy for 2025, let’s discuss how these and other forces shaping the global payments landscape could impact your approach to paying your customers and workforce in the coming years. A conversation with an Onbe payments expert is the best way to align your payments roadmap with the advances, payment trends and consumer preferences transforming every corner of our increasingly connected world.

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