Industry Overview - In 2024, the global mobile payment industry made significant progress, with over 2 billion registered accounts and more than 514 million monthly active accounts, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 14% and 11% respectively [26][41][46] - The industry contributed an additional $720 billion to the GDP of countries with mobile money services in 2023, representing a 1.7% increase in GDP [26][7][28] Business Growth - The transaction volume in 2024 reached approximately 108 billion transactions, with a total value exceeding $1.68 trillion, marking a 20% increase in transaction volume and a 16% increase in transaction value year-on-year [28][31] - Merchant payments accounted for the highest transaction value, surpassing international remittances, with customers paying over $100 billion to merchants via mobile money in 2024, a 21% increase from 2023 [28][31] Regional Development - Sub-Saharan Africa remains the core region for mobile payments, with over 1.1 billion registered accounts, while East Asia and the Pacific, as well as the Middle East and North Africa, are emerging as significant growth areas [9][42] - In 2024, the number of registered mobile money agents increased by 20% to 28 million, with 10 million active agents monthly, indicating improved accessibility for users [26][31] Regulatory and Policy Trends - The regulatory environment has become more favorable for mobile payment providers, with many benefiting from supportive regulations, although challenges such as fraud and cross-border data transmission remain [2][29] - Approximately 60% of mobile money providers have initiated digital skills programs to enhance financial literacy and combat fraud, which is crucial for the industry's sustainable growth [11][29] Socio-Economic Impact - Mobile payments have positively impacted financial inclusion, providing services to underserved populations and supporting sectors like agricultural insurance and renewable energy [5][2] - The gender gap in mobile money account ownership persists in eight out of twelve surveyed countries, highlighting the need for increased awareness and accessibility for women [20][29]