EBANX reports Pix, account-based transfers, and debit cards as the fastest-growing payment methods in emerging markets

With annual growth up to 35%, these real-time payments are driving the expansion of digital commerce across rising economies, according to EBANX's Beyond Borders 2025 study

CURITIBA, Brazil, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Surging consumer demand for real-time, seamless, and cost-effective transactions has catapulted Pix, other account-based transfers, and debit cards to record adoption rates, establishing them as the fastest-growing payment methods for online purchases in emerging markets. Pix, Brazil's instant payment system, leads with projected growth of 35% per year by 2027, followed by other account-to-account transactions, expected to accelerate by 28% annually. Next, are debit cards, expanding at a 24% pace per year by 2027, completing the group of game-changer payment methods, that hold a large share of online sales and still, maintain high growth rates.

The projections, from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI), are featured in the new edition of Beyond Borders, EBANX's annual comprehensive study on the digital market and payment trends in emerging economies. The business intelligence report offers an in-depth analysis of online consumption patterns in Latin America, Africa, and India – key regions driving the future of the global digital economy. It delivers exclusive projections and insights supported by the latest data and expert perspectives. Click here to access the full Beyond Borders 2025 report for free: http://bit.ly/EBANXBeyondBorders2025.

"Emerging markets are leading the global shift towards real-time payments, with innovations that match their populations' demands for speed and convenience," said João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX. "This results from an irreversible trend in the payments industry: the development of solutions completely adapted to local consumer behavior. And our report shows how this is taking place."

Pix exemplifies this transformation pointed out by Del Valle, with a new feature scheduled to be launched by the Central Bank of Brazil in mid-2025. "Pix Automático has the potential to reshape Brazil's digital market," he said. The highly anticipated feature of Pix will enable automated recurring transactions through Brazil's instant payment system, bringing a whole new customer base to services such as streaming platforms, SaaS, app subscriptions, e-learning, social media, gaming, and more.

Exclusive projections from Beyond Borders indicate that Pix Automático could unlock over USD 30 billion in online recurring payments within two years, a significant volume for a market dominated by credit cards that currently moves USD 50 billion annually in Brazil. The report also estimates that the new feature will account for 12% of all Pix online transactions by 2027.

"When one payment method gains traction, it creates a ripple effect that elevates the entire ecosystem," said Del Valle. "The rise of Pix is not an isolated phenomenon, and we are also witnessing exponential expansion with other types of account-based transactions."

EBANX's new report also dives deep into other successful examples of the payments industry, that are reshaping how people consume online. According to the study, UPI (India), PSE (Colombia), mobile money (Kenya, Nigeria, and other African countries), and digital wallets (across emerging markets) are expected to grow annually by 16% to 20% through 2027.

The power of credit card

While alternative payment methods are gaining ground in rising economies, card issuers have been investing in new features and user experience improvements. These investments not only strengthened the loyalty of existing customers but also attracted a new base of consumers seeking financial solutions more aligned with their digital lifestyle. As a result, credit cards remain the leading payment method in e-commerce in many emerging markets and are expected to continue to grow, at a 13% year rate by 2027.

"Credit cards remain highly relevant for digital commerce. Fintechs and neo-banks have expanded access to credit through innovative solutions aligned with the demands and needs of consumers," said Del Valle.

Among the innovations highlighted in Beyond Borders are new security features such as account updater (updating card information automatically for seamless transactions), card on file (storing card information for future transactions), and 3DS (a security protocol that verifies the cardholder's identity).

EBANX's report also indicates that, in rising markets, credit cards continue to play a dominant role in sectors such as streaming, SaaS, gaming, and travel. They account for 51% to 77% of all e-commerce purchases in these verticals across emerging economies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. As Beyond Borders points out, credit card transaction volumes are not dropping. With increased digital and financial inclusion in emerging regions, the overall payments market has expanded significantly.

"Digital payments have taken over what was once dominated by cash, and this shift has been driven by Latin America, Africa, and Asia," Del Valle stated. "There is ample potential for merchants, financial institutions, and other players to benefit from all the payment innovations emerging from rising economies," he added.

To read EBANX's Beyond Borders 2025 study, access http://bit.ly/EBANXBeyondBorders2025.

ABOUT EBANX
EBANX is the leading payment platform connecting global companies with customers from the fastest-growing digital markets in the world. The company was founded in 2012 in Brazil with the mission of giving people access to buy in international digital commerce. With powerful proprietary technology and infrastructure, combined with in-depth knowledge of the markets where it operates, EBANX enables global businesses to connect with hundreds of payment methods in different countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. EBANX goes beyond payments, increasing sales, and fostering seamless purchase experiences for businesses and clients.

For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx

Media Contact:
Leonardo Stamillo
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Content CO

SOURCE EBANX