This story was originally published on Smart Cities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Smart Cities Dive newsletter. Uber plans to help international tourists coming to the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup this summer by installing kiosks at airports, hotels and ports. The kiosks enable visitors to book and pay for a ride even if they don’t have the Uber app or a local data plan for their smartphone. The first kiosk was installed in December at LaGuardia Airport in New York ...

Industry Overview - Mobile payments are increasingly replacing physical wallets, enhancing transaction speed and efficiency in the global economy [2][3] - The global mobile payments market reached $4.97 trillion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $46.62 trillion by 2034, reflecting a 28% compound annual growth rate [4] Technological Advancements - The rise of smartphone penetration, wearables, and fintech innovations are driving mobile payment adoption, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials [3] - Technologies such as AI and blockchain are improving fraud prevention and transaction reliability [3] Market Dynamics - E-commerce growth and improved digital infrastructure are reinforcing mobile payment momentum, benefiting small businesses by enhancing cash flow and financial visibility [5] - Competition is intensifying among companies like Nu Holdings, Global Payments, and Remitly, which are forming deeper partnerships to scale their operations [6] Company Insights: Nu Holdings - Nu Holdings offers mobile payment capabilities through its Nubank platform, integrating payments into a single app-based ecosystem [8] - The company serves over 127 million customers globally, with a strong engagement rate of over 83% [9] - Nu Holdings is strategically applying for a U.S. national bank charter to access a larger digital payments market [10] Company Insights: Global Payments - Global Payments is a leading provider of payment technology, enabling mobile and digital wallet transactions across various channels [11] - The company generates revenue primarily through transaction-based fees, benefiting from the rise in mobile payment adoption [13] Company Insights: Remitly Global - Remitly operates a mobile-first platform focused on international remittances, facilitating seamless cross-border payments [14] - The company reported 8.9 million active customers and a 35% year-over-year increase in total send volume to $19.5 billion [16] - Remitly is expanding its partnerships to enhance geographic coverage and accelerate settlement times [17]

Core Insights - South Korean authorities have dismantled a significant crypto crime ring that laundered approximately 150 billion won ($102 million) through various payment platforms and overseas exchanges [1][2][5] Group 1: Crime Operation Details - The crypto crime ring operated for about four years, utilizing WeChat Pay and Alipay to collect payments from clients in China and other countries [2] - Funds were converted into digital assets and transferred to overseas exchanges before being sent back to South Korea, where they were exchanged for local currency [3][4] - The group disguised illegal transactions as legitimate expenses, such as cosmetic surgery payments and tuition fees, to evade detection by banks [3][4] Group 2: Investigation and Findings - Customs officers identified three suspects by tracing transaction patterns across multiple accounts and digital wallets [4] - A Chinese man in his thirties was identified as a key figure in coordinating the fund flows [4] - The case is considered one of the largest crypto-linked remittance schemes in recent years, highlighting the challenges in tracking crypto transactions due to their rapid movement across exchanges [5] Group 3: Regulatory Response and Future Implications - In response to the growing issue of crypto-related crime, South Korea plans to implement stricter anti-money laundering regulations, including the application of the Travel Rule for transfers exceeding 1 million won [7] - The recent announcement of plans to launch spot crypto ETFs in 2026 indicates the evolving nature of South Korea's crypto market and the associated risks [4]

Group 1 - Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong advocates for a US stablecoin policy modeled after China's approach, particularly highlighting interest payments on digital currencies as beneficial for ordinary people [1][2] - Armstrong argues that allowing rewards on stablecoins would not disrupt bank lending and would provide advantages to American consumers, suggesting a more market-driven approach [2] - The GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, allows platforms like Coinbase to share yields with stablecoin holders, a provision currently under threat from US banking lobbyists [1][5] Group 2 - The Chinese response to Armstrong's comments indicates confusion, with analysts noting that the digital yuan is not classified as a stablecoin [3] - Interest payments on the digital yuan are seen as a reaction to low adoption rates, with the program subsidized by commercial banks rather than the central bank [4] - The interest rates offered on the digital yuan are likely below standard demand deposit rates, raising questions about their effectiveness in incentivizing users [4]

Core Insights - China plans to start paying interest on digital yuan holdings, with payments beginning in January, to accelerate the adoption of its central bank digital currency, E-CNY [1] - The initiative is a significant milestone in the development of the digital yuan, which has been in progress since 2014, and is expected to reshape the legal and technical framework supporting it [2] Adoption and Competition - Despite pilot programs in over half of mainland China's provinces, the digital yuan has not been formally launched nationwide and competes with established digital payment services like WeChat Pay and Alipay [3] - The global expansion of the digital yuan has faced challenges, including the withdrawal of the Bank for International Settlements from the mBridge cross-border payment platform due to concerns over sanctions evasion and the US dollar's dominance [4] Current Financial Landscape - Interest on demand deposits at major Chinese banks has decreased to approximately 0.05%, raising questions about whether offering interest on E-CNY will significantly enhance its adoption [4] - Banks are experiencing high deposit inflows as households save more, while loan growth has reached historic lows, prompting the People's Bank of China (PBOC) to intensify its digital currency initiatives [5] Regulatory Environment - Unlike the US, which allows privately issued stablecoins, China continues to focus on its state-backed E-CNY, with regulators expressing concerns about the risks associated with stablecoins [6] - As of the end of November, China had processed 3.48 billion digital yuan transactions, amounting to 16.7 trillion yuan (approximately $2.38 trillion) [6]

Core Insights - The article discusses the competitive landscape of payment systems in South Korea, highlighting the challenges faced by foreign payment solutions like Alipay and WeChat Pay in a market dominated by local credit card usage and electronic wallets [2][7]. Group 1: Payment Landscape - In South Korea, credit card usage is projected to reach 46.2% in 2024, with cash transactions at 15.9% and local electronic wallets like KakaoPay and Naver Pay accounting for about 70% of transaction volume [1]. - The presence of a mature card payment system and rapidly growing local e-wallets has made it difficult for foreign payment solutions to penetrate the market [2][7]. Group 2: Cross-Border Payment Competition - Alipay+ has made significant inroads in areas like Myeongdong, where cash transactions are prevalent, and has seen a 626% year-on-year increase in spending by overseas tourists in 2023 [6][3]. - The competition for cross-border payment solutions is intensifying, with companies like Ant International and Tencent focusing on differentiating their offerings to capture market share [2][3]. Group 3: User Engagement and Marketing Strategies - Alipay+ has partnered with local merchants to enhance user engagement, with a focus on marketing strategies that go beyond simple discounts to include promotional activities and loyalty programs [9][10]. - The trend is shifting towards integrating payment solutions with marketing and tourism services, as seen in collaborations with local businesses to offer customized services and discounts [9][10]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The competition in cross-border payments is expected to evolve beyond just payment processing, with a growing emphasis on value innovation and user experience [7][10]. - As the market matures, the focus will likely shift towards enhancing customer loyalty and engagement through innovative marketing strategies and partnerships [9][10].

Core Insights - The mobile payments landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by the adoption of smartphones and fintech innovations, leading to a decline in cash reliance and ATMs [2][3][4] - The global mobile payments market is projected to grow from $3.84 trillion in 2024 to $26.53 trillion by 2032, reflecting a 27% CAGR, indicating significant long-term potential [4] Industry Overview - Mobile payments are reshaping financial transactions globally, integrating digital wallets and technologies like NFC and QR codes to enhance consumer and business interactions [2][3] - The rise of super apps, such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, is changing consumer behavior by combining various services into unified platforms [3] - E-commerce growth and improved digital infrastructure are further propelling the mobile payments sector, benefiting small businesses through faster settlements and better cash flow visibility [4] Competitive Landscape - Competition is intensifying as companies like Nu Holdings, ACI Worldwide, and Bread Financial expand their services through partnerships with banks and merchants [5] - Regulatory frameworks are evolving to enhance security, data privacy, and financial inclusion, with initiatives like FedNow in the U.S. and UPI in India [5] Company Highlights - **Nu Holdings**: Offers mobile payment capabilities through its Nubank platform, serving over 127 million customers, with a strong presence in Latin America [9][10] - **ACI Worldwide**: Provides the infrastructure for mobile payments, enabling real-time transactions and supporting over 200 digital wallets across 70 countries [11][14] - **Bread Financial**: Focuses on embedded financing solutions, allowing merchants to integrate buy now, pay later options into mobile checkouts, enhancing consumer flexibility [15][18]

Crypto Adoption & Integration - Crypto faces a distribution challenge, but also holds an integration opportunity [1] - Global crypto adoption will be driven by upgrading existing routines, not creating new ones [1] User Base Comparison - a16z estimates approximately 70 million monthly active crypto users [1] - WeChat Pay has 935 million users [2] - Google Pay has 820 million users [2] - Apple Pay has 624 million users [2] - PayPal has 434 million users [2] Sei Network Focus - Sei Network is built for the scale of real-world finance, implying a much larger user base than current crypto adoption [1]

Crypto User Base - a16z estimates approximately 70 million monthly active crypto users [1] - Crypto user base is growing, but traditional finance apps have significantly larger user bases [1] Traditional Finance User Base - WeChat Pay boasts 935 million users [1] - Google Pay has 820 million users [1] - Apple Pay has 624 million users [1] - PayPal has 434 million users [1] Strategic Implication - Sei is being built for massive scale, comparable to the user base of established finance applications [1]

Core Insights - The global Digital Payment Market was valued at USD 134.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 984.66 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 28.2% from 2025 to 2032 [1][20]. Market Overview - The Digital Payment Market includes electronic transactions such as online payments, mobile payments, POS systems, and P2P transfers, driven by smartphone penetration, e-commerce growth, and demand for efficient payment solutions [6][7]. - Key solutions in the market include payment processing, gateways, fraud management systems, and POS solutions, catering to various industries from retail to healthcare [7]. Technological Trends - AI is transforming the digital payment landscape by enhancing efficiency, security, and personalization, including real-time fraud detection and optimized transaction routing [2][4][5]. - Key trends include the rise of real-time payments, contactless technologies, and embedded finance, which integrates payment services into non-financial platforms [9][10]. Growth Drivers - The market's growth is fueled by smartphone adoption, e-commerce proliferation, supportive regulatory frameworks, and advancements in security technologies [15][16][19]. - Innovations such as biometric authentication, real-time payment systems, and distributed ledger technology are enhancing user experience and security [14][18][19]. Segment Analysis - The "Digital Wallets" segment is expected to grow rapidly due to convenience and integration with financial services, while "Payment Security and Fraud Management" solutions will see significant uptake due to increasing transaction volumes [26][30]. - The "Cloud Deployment" segment is projected to grow fastest, offering scalability and cost-efficiency for businesses [27]. Regional Insights - North America, particularly the U.S. and Canada, is leading in digital payment technology adoption with a projected CAGR of approximately 27.5% [28]. - The Asia Pacific region, especially China and India, is anticipated to achieve the highest CAGR of around 29.5%, driven by mobile payment adoption and government initiatives for financial inclusion [31]. Future Outlook - The Digital Payment Market is expected to continue its strong expansion driven by digital transformation, financial inclusion efforts, and emerging technologies like quantum computing and advanced AI [20][34]. - Key forces influencing the market include technological innovation, evolving regulatory frameworks, and shifts in consumer behavior towards convenience and personalization [34][35].