The payments landscape in the United States is evolving at breakneck speed, driven by technology advances and changing consumer expectations. Over the past few years, digital and real-time payment innovations that once seemed futuristic have become a reality. From real-time rails enabling instant money movement to AI-powered fraud defenses, the way Americans pay and get paid is being redefined.

Businesses across retail, finance, and tech are racing to adapt, knowing that offering seamless, secure, and flexible payment options is now a baseline expectation. Below, we explore the 10 top new trends in payments shaping 2025 and beyond, and what they mean for U.S. companies.

Top New Trends in Payments

 1. Real-Time Payments (RTP) Reach Critical Mass

Real-time payments – transactions that settle instantly, 24/7/365 – are rapidly becoming mainstream in the U.S. market. The Federal Reserve’s FedNow service launched in 2023 and saw explosive growth in its first two years. By mid-2025, FedNow had onboarded over 1,400 financial institutions and processed $245 billion in a single quarter (Q2 2025), a staggering leap from just $492 million in Q2 2024.

The private-sector RTP® network (run by The Clearing House since 2017) also surged in usage – in 2024 it handled 343 million transactions (worth $246 billion), up 38% in volume and 94% in value from the prior year. Analysts predict U.S. instant payments will hit a tipping point soon. In fact, industry experts estimate that by 2028, around 25% of all electronic payments in the U.S. will be real-time, and global forecasts indicate that real-time transactions will reach 27% of all payments by that time.

This surge is fueled by demand for speed and convenience. Consumers now expect instant access to funds – whether receiving paychecks, insurance payouts, or peer-to-peer transfers – rather than waiting days for ACH or check clearance. Businesses are also finding use cases beyond P2P: instant supplier payments can optimize inventory, and real-time payroll disbursements improve employee satisfaction. Notably, both FedNow and RTP have recently raised transaction limits (FedNow up to $1 million; RTP up to $10 million) to accommodate B2B uses.

As more banks enable send-and-receive capabilities (not just receive-only), real-time payments are poised to become as ubiquitous as credit cards or ACH. U.S. companies should plan for an instant payment future – enabling real-time payouts and collections can streamline cash flow and meet customers’ growing expectations for immediacy.

2. AI and Machine Learning Supercharge Fraud Prevention

As digital payments proliferate, fraudsters are getting more sophisticated – but so are the defenses. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have emerged as indispensable tools in preventing fraud and cybercrime. This is an arms race; criminals are already leveraging generative AI (e.g., deepfake videos, personalized phishing) to scam victims, contributing to an expected $10 trillion in global cybercrime losses by 2025.

In response, payment companies and banks are deploying AI models to analyze transactions in real time, spot anomalous patterns, and block threats within milliseconds. For example, Mastercard’s AI-based Decision Intelligence system scans 1 trillion data points in under 50ms to determine if a transaction is legitimate, boosting fraud detection rates by an average of 20% – and as much as 300% in some cases.

Similarly, Visa has invested over $3 billion in AI and data infrastructure in the past decade, rolling out AI-powered risk solutions that protect instant account-to-account payments and card-not-present transactions.

The result is a new generation of adaptive, real-time fraud filters that far outperform static rules. AI can detect subtle indicators of fraud (such as unusual spending behavior or synthetic identities) that human auditors might miss. It also continuously learns from new fraud patterns, helping stay ahead of evolving tactics. However, businesses must implement AI responsibly – guarding against biases and false declines – to maintain customer trust.

In the future, U.S. merchants and financial institutions will increasingly rely on AI-driven fraud prevention as table stakes. This means investing in advanced fraud detection services or partnering with payment processors that offer machine learning fraud scoring. The payoff is significant: better fraud prevention not only saves potential losses but also improves approval rates for genuine customers, smoothing the shopping experience. In a world of rising threats, AI is becoming the cornerstone of secure payments, helping businesses safeguard transactions without adding friction.

3. The Rise of Digital Wallets and Mobile Payments

Digital wallets have firmly moved into the mainstream of U.S. commerce. No longer used only by tech enthusiasts, mobile wallets (such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and PayPal) are now a preferred payment method for a large share of consumers. In 2024, nearly 49% of Americans used a digital wallet in some form, and usage continues climbing across demographics. By mid-2025, an estimated 65% of U.S. adults had used a digital wallet, up from 57% in 2024 – a clear sign that digital payments have gone fully mainstream beyond early adopters.

These wallets are capturing an increasing share of transactions, both online and in stores. In fact, 39% of U.S. e-commerce transaction value in 2024 was handled via digital wallets, along with 16% of in-person point-of-sale payments. Projections suggest those shares will roughly double by 2030 (to 52% of online and 30% of in-store payments) as younger, digitally native generations drive adoption.

Why the rapid rise? For consumers, mobile wallets offer unparalleled convenience (tap-to-pay speed, one-click online checkout) and security (tokenized card details and biometric authentication). They also integrate rewards, loyalty cards, and even transit passes, consolidating daily essentials. Gen Z and Millennials have been swift to embrace wallets – a stunning 91% of Americans aged 18–26 now view digital wallets as their primary payment method.

This generational shift means cash and even plastic cards are fading in importance for younger shoppers. As a result, merchants large and small are racing to accept contactless and mobile payments. Today, over 80% of U.S. retailers support tap-to-pay at checkout, and many have integrated wallet payments in their apps and websites. Notably, tap-to-pay transactions now account for over 60% of all face-to-face Mastercard and Visa payments in the U.S., underscoring how standard mobile and contactless payments have become.

For businesses, supporting digital wallets is no longer optional – it’s expected. Companies that fail to offer mobile payment options risk losing sales from the growing segment of customers who won’t shop where wallets aren’t accepted.

Adopting wallets can also boost sales and retention by enabling faster checkouts and integrating loyalty offers. As wallets evolve into “super apps” (combining payments, IDs, tickets, and more), businesses should be ready to engage customers through these platforms. Overall, the rise of digital wallets represents a fundamental shift toward a mobile-first, wallet-friendly commerce environment in the U.S.

4. Embedded Payments and Invisible Checkout

The line between shopping and paying is blurring. Embedded payments – where the payment process is built seamlessly into a product or service – are becoming the norm both online and in-store. Consumers increasingly encounter “invisible checkout” experiences that remove friction: think of taking a rideshare or using a streaming app where the payment happens automatically in the background, no separate checkout step required. This trend is expanding into retail via concepts like Amazon’s Just Walk Out stores and other cashierless checkout pilots, where sensors and computer vision handle transactions as customers walk out with their goods.

Even in traditional settings, retailers aim to make checkout as effortless as possible through mobile self-checkout apps and one-click payments. By 2025, these kinds of embedded payment experiences will be far more common, as businesses realize that the best checkout is often no checkout – the payment fades into the app or device interface.

Embedded finance, on the other hand, is proliferating across digital platforms. Non-financial companies are integrating payment and banking capabilities to streamline user experiences. E-commerce marketplaces, for instance, embed payment options for sellers; gig-economy apps embed instant payouts for workers; and software platforms embed invoicing and payment acceptance for their business users. Embedded payments in B2B are also leaping ahead – payment providers are partnering with enterprise software so that companies can pay suppliers or get paid by clients from within their resource planning or billing systems.

The benefit is a frictionless flow: users don’t need to hop to external banking apps or card terminals. According to Visa, when done right, embedded finance can be a “four-way win” – enabling low-cost distribution for providers, new revenue streams for platforms, improved engagement for distributors, and a contextual, convenient service for end users.

For U.S. businesses, integrating payments into the customer journey is becoming a competitive differentiator. Retailers should explore technologies such as saved payment credentials and one-tap mobile payments to speed up e-commerce checkouts (reducing cart abandonment, which still hovers around 70% mainly due to cumbersome payment steps).

In physical retail, investing in POS upgrades that support mobile pay, scan-and-go, or biometric checkout can shorten lines and elevate customer experience. Additionally, companies offering services or software can leverage APIs to embed payments or payouts, keeping users within their ecosystem.

5. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Continues Its Surge

The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model – allowing shoppers to split purchases into installment payments, often interest-free – has entrenched itself in the U.S. retail scene. What started as a niche fintech offering has exploded into a mainstream payment option at many online (and offline) checkouts. BNPL usage continues to grow steadily year over year. In 2024, 15% of U.S. adults used a buy-now-pay-later service, up from 12% in 2022. That translates to roughly 86 million Americans using BNPL in 2024, projected to reach over 91 million by 2025.

Major providers like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm report rising volume. Cyber Monday 2023 saw BNPL sales jump 42.5% year-on-year, topping $940 million as budget-conscious shoppers leveraged installment plans for holiday purchases.

Several factors underpin this growth. During economic uncertainty or tight budgets, consumers appreciate the flexibility of spreading payments (BNPL effectively acts as a short-term, zero-interest loan). Younger shoppers have also embraced BNPL as an alternative to credit cards – nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials say they prefer BNPL over credit cards for financing larger buys.

The ease of use is a big draw: BNPL is often integrated right into the online checkout process, with just one extra click to break a payment into four installments, for instance. Many digital wallets have even built BNPL into their apps (e.g., PayPal’s “Pay in 4”), making it a standard option alongside cards.

Consequently, 55% of consumers now say they prefer merchants that offer BNPL at checkout, particularly for purchases over $200. Retailers have noticed that providing BNPL can lift conversion rates and average order values, as it reduces the sticker shock of high prices and drives impulse buys that feel more “affordable” per installment.

U.S. merchants not yet offering a pay-later option should consider it, especially if targeting younger demographics or selling higher-ticket items. However, BNPL’s popularity also brings new considerations. Businesses must be mindful of consumers’ financial health – while BNPL can boost sales, there is rising scrutiny on whether it encourages overspending.

(Notably, late payments on BNPL are increasing: about 24% of BNPL users had made a late payment by 2025, raising regulatory attention.)

We may see more oversight and transparency requirements in this sector soon. Overall, though, BNPL’s growth trajectory in 2025 suggests it will remain a prominent part of the payments mix. For retailers, partnering with reputable BNPL providers and clearly communicating terms can provide customers more choice and flexibility, translating into higher satisfaction and sales in an inflation-conscious market.

6. Open Banking and APIs Enable New Services

The U.S. is making significant strides in open banking, albeit via a different path than the U.K. and EU, where open banking is mandated by regulation. Open banking refers to banks securely sharing customer data (such as account information and transaction history) with authorized third-party fintech apps via application programming interfaces (APIs) – and even enabling direct payments from bank accounts.

In October 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a much-anticipated open banking rule (Section 1033) that recognized secure APIs as the foundation for consumer data sharing. While that rule’s implementation has faced delays and legal challenges in 2025, the market momentum has not slowed. Long before any mandate, U.S. banks and fintechs were already forging API partnerships to meet customer demand for connectivity and integrated services.

An industry-led group, the Financial Data Exchange (FDX), established a common API standard that now underpins roughly 114 million consumer data sharing connections in the U.S. – more than triple the number of API calls in 2022. This massive growth shows that millions of Americans are using fintech apps (for budgeting, payments, lending, etc.) that connect to their bank accounts via APIs, rather than older methods like screen scraping.

Open banking is unlocking innovation in payments and finance. Consumers can link their bank accounts to payment apps for smooth account-to-account (A2A) transfers or to fund wallets without manual input. “Pay by bank” solutions – where a customer pays a merchant directly from their bank account, bypassing card networks – are emerging, promising lower fees and instant confirmation.

Fintech lenders use bank data to underwrite credit or offer “cash flow” based loans. Budgeting and personal finance apps aggregate accounts to give users a holistic view. All these use cases rely on APIs and open data access. For businesses, open banking also enables embedded finance: for example, a retail app might integrate a bank’s API to offer branded checking accounts or rewards. Embedded B2B payments are accelerating too, as companies integrate directly with clients’ or vendors’ banking systems for faster invoicing and payments.

Looking ahead, U.S. open banking is expected to evolve into open finance, encompassing brokerage, insurance, and other financial data in a secure web of connectivity. Although the regulatory framework remains in flux, banks that proactively build API capabilities stand to gain by partnering with fintechs rather than competing in isolation. The payoff is improved customer experiences (think of a banking app that can show your accounts at other institutions, or let you pay all your bills from one place) and access to new customer segments. U.S. businesses should watch this space: those that leverage open banking APIs – either to give customers more ways to pay (like account-based payments) or to enrich their services with financial data – will be at the forefront of innovation. The era of siloed banking is ending; in its place, a more connected financial ecosystem is emerging, where data flows securely to where customers need it.

7. Payment Security and Tokenization Take Center Stage

With digital payments soaring, payment security has never been more crucial. High-profile data breaches and rising identity theft have put pressure on the industry to make transactions more secure without overburdening the customer. One technology at the heart of this effort is tokenization – replacing sensitive payment data (like card numbers) with random tokens that are useless to fraudsters. Tokenization has quickly gone from best practice to standard operating procedure in many areas. By 2024, nearly 50% of all e-commerce transactions worldwide will be processed with tokenized credentials.

In the U.S., more primary wallets and online merchants are increasingly using network tokenization (dynamic tokens tied to card networks) instead of raw card numbers. Visa’s CEO noted in 2025 that the company had added over a billion new tokens in the past year, bringing its total to 13.7 billion tokens, and that almost half of its online transactions are now on tokenized rails. Mastercard similarly reported that, in some regions, half of e-commerce transactions are tokenized, aiming to reach 100% by 2030. This shift significantly reduces fraud from data breaches – even if hackers steal tokenized numbers, they cannot use them elsewhere.

Beyond cards, tokenization is expanding to new areas. Merchants are tokenizing bank account details for recurring ACH payments. Digital wallets use tokenization to protect the underlying card or account – for instance, Apple Pay and Google Pay create device-specific tokens so the actual card never traverses the network. We’re also seeing the rise of tokenized digital identity and credentials.

Verification data (ID documents, account login info) can be tokenized such that a user can authenticate or share specific attributes without exposing the raw data. This concept, often called the “token economy,” underpins emerging passwordless login standards and could enable, for example, proving you meet age or income criteria via a token tied to your payment card. Even assets are being tokenized via blockchain – from tokenized deposits (stablecoins) to tokenized securities – which could eventually streamline settlement and increase security in asset transfers.

In addition to tokenization, encryption, and biometrics, payment security also relies on key planks. End-to-end encryption of payment data and compliance with standards like PCI DSS remain essential for merchants. Multi-factor authentication (now often provided by a biometric, such as a fingerprint or face scan, on one’s phone) is increasingly common, especially for high-risk transactions. In the U.S., the card networks’ push toward passwordless online checkout by 2030 (using tokenized cards on file, biometric confirmation, and one-click flows) highlights where we’re headed.

The focus is on making payments “zero trust” – assume any channel could be compromised and mitigate it via secure tech – yet invisible to the user’s experience. For businesses, investing in modern payment security isn’t just about avoiding losses; it’s about customer confidence. Consumers are more likely to shop with brands they trust to keep their data safe.

Thus, adopting measures like tokenization, fraud AI filters, and strong customer authentication can be a competitive advantage. As fraud tactics evolve, the U.S. payments industry will double down on security in 2025, striving for that balance where transactions are both ultra-safe and seamless.

8. Cross-Border Payments Go Faster and Cheaper

Sending money across borders has historically been a pain point – expensive fees, slow delivery, and opaque tracking. But innovation is finally catching up to cross-border payments, promising better experiences for U.S. businesses engaged in global trade or serving international customers. One major driver is the expansion of real-time payment networks globally and efforts to link them across countries. More than 70 countries now have domestic instant payment schemes, and some are beginning to connect these networks to enable near-instant cross-border transfers.

Multiple Asian and European countries have started bilateral real-time payment linkages. The vision is an interoperable global RTP network that can route payments between any two bank accounts in different countries within seconds. While that vision is still a few years out, incremental progress is happening. The U.S. Fed’s adoption of the ISO 20022 messaging standard in 2025 will make it easier to coordinate data on international payments. And private-sector solutions like Visa Direct and Mastercard Send are enabling faster cross-border card-based transfers today by leveraging those companies’ global networks.

Another factor is the rise of fintech remittance and B2B payment providers offering alternatives to the traditional correspondent banking model. Companies like Wise (TransferWise), Revolut, and Ripple (with its blockchain-based network) have pushed the industry toward real-time FX rates, transparent fees, and speedy settlement. Even incumbent players are innovating: SWIFT’s gpi initiative has sped up international wire transfers to same-day or under an hour in many cases by improving tracking and communication between banks.

Meanwhile, stablecoins and digital currencies are being tested for cross-border uses. In 2023-24, Visa began piloting the USDC stablecoin for transaction settlement and, by 2025, had processed over $200 million in stablecoin-based settlements. These are still early days, but it shows mainstream institutions exploring crypto as a tool to move money faster across time zones (since a digital dollar can move 24/7, unlike traditional banking cutoff times).

For U.S. businesses, especially e-commerce merchants, freelancers, or companies with global suppliers, the improvement of cross-border payments is welcome news. Costs are gradually coming down (fintech competition is forcing lower fees), and speeds are increasing. In the near future, paying an overseas vendor or receiving money from an international customer will be almost as easy as a domestic ACH transfer.

The key for businesses is to stay informed about new cross-border payment options. Using a provider that supports real-time payouts to foreign bank accounts or mobile wallets can give you an edge in customer service (e.g., an online marketplace that quickly pays international sellers will attract more sellers).

Likewise, consumers now expect cheaper, faster ways to send money abroad (for travel, family support, etc.), so financial institutions need to offer modern remittance services to meet that demand. In summary, cross-border commerce is being unshackled from the old frictions, enabling U.S. companies of all sizes to expand globally with less payment hassle.

9. Contactless and Biometric Payments Become Standard

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated the shift to contactless payments in the U.S., and that shift has proven permanent. Tapping a card or phone to pay is now second nature to many Americans. As of 2024, contactless payments (NFC tap) accounted for roughly two-thirds of all in-person transactions on Mastercard’s U.S. network, and Visa reported similar figures, with over 60% of face-to-face U.S. transactions now tap-to-pay.

This is a remarkable change from just a few years ago, when contactless adoption lagged in the U.S. compared to Europe or Asia. Much of the population has now experienced the speed and ease of tapping to pay, which on average takes only 15 seconds, about half the time of a traditional chip-card insert.

Businesses have responded by upgrading point-of-sale terminals en masse; even small vendors at farmers’ markets might use contactless card readers or smartphone-based QR code payments. The expectation from consumers is that every point-of-sale will support contactless, and indeed it’s becoming standard – from transit systems (e.g. OMNY in NYC) to vending machines.

The next frontier is biometric authentication – using your face, fingerprint, palm, or voice to authorize payments. Thanks to smartphones, billions of payments now incorporate biometrics: for instance, a user taps their phone and then uses Face ID or Touch ID to confirm the transaction. This not only adds security (biometrics are hard to fake) but also convenience (no PIN to enter for mobile wallets). Payment providers are going further by experimenting with biometrics directly at the point of sale.

Amazon’s palm-scanning payment system (Amazon One) is rolling out at Whole Foods and other stores, letting enrolled customers pay by waving their hand. Some U.S. retailers have trialed “pay-by-face” kiosks that use a camera to recognize the customer (linked to their wallet). On the card side, biometric payment cards – credit cards with a built-in fingerprint reader for authentication – have been piloted, allowing a tap but requiring the owner’s fingerprint on the card for high-value transactions instead of a PIN.

Meanwhile, online, the adoption of passkeys (device-based biometric login for websites) is eliminating passwords and could streamline e-commerce checkout by tying user identity to a biometric credential.

All of these point to a future where your biometrics are your payment key, offering both security and seamlessness. The market for biometric verification in payments is booming, with global transaction value expected to reach trillions. U.S. businesses should track these developments: enabling biometric authentication can reduce fraud (e.g., by preventing card theft) and speed up checkout.

Many banking apps already use biometrics for login; extending similar convenience to payments will further reduce friction. Of course, privacy and data protection are paramount – biometric data must be stored and used securely, with customer consent. Biometric payments, if done right, can enhance user trust by ensuring only the authorized person can use a given payment method. In 2025 and beyond, expect more Americans to pay with a touch or a glance, as contactless and biometric technologies become standard for payment security and convenience.

10. Seamless Omnichannel Experiences Are a Must-Have

Today’s consumers move fluidly between online and offline channels – and they expect their payment experience to be just as seamless no matter how or where they shop. The era of siloed sales channels is over; in its place is omnichannel commerce, where in-store, e-commerce, and mobile app experiences converge. A striking 90% of consumers now expect a smooth omnichannel payment experience – meaning they want consistent payment options and ease, whether buying in-store, on a website, or via a smartphone.

A customer might research an item on their phone, test it in-store, and then purchase from the retailer’s website at home – and they don’t want to re-enter payment details each time or encounter different accepted payment methods. Shoppers increasingly use buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) or curbside pickup, requiring retailers to blend online payments with in-person fulfillment seamlessly.

They also interact with emerging channels like social media “buy” buttons and shoppable livestreams, which require frictionless in-app payments. The companies winning loyalty are those enabling unified payments across channels, supported by back-end platforms that integrate everything from inventory to transaction history.

For businesses, delivering an omnichannel payment experience involves both technology and strategy. On the tech side, it means adopting unified commerce platforms that connect point-of-sale systems with e-commerce gateways and mobile apps. This allows, for instance, a customer’s saved card or digital wallet in your app to be used in-store via a QR code or a phone number ID. It also means offering the same range of payment choices everywhere – if a retailer accepts a particular credit card or mobile wallet in-store, the website and app should as well.

Many U.S. retailers are also tying loyalty programs to payments across channels (e.g., letting customers earn and use the same rewards whether online or offline). On the strategic side, businesses are re-thinking the role of stores and sales staff: stores are becoming experience centers and fulfillment hubs rather than the exclusive point of transaction. Payment processes are being re-engineered accordingly.

Equipping sales associates with mobile checkout devices to ring up customers from anywhere in the store, or allowing a cart started on a phone to be recalled at a store register. Notably, social commerce is rising, so even platforms like Instagram and TikTok might be considered “channels” where customers expect to transact instantly, requiring the integration of payment solutions into those environments.

An omnichannel approach to payments also yields rich data. Businesses can gain a 360° view of customer behavior by linking transactions from all sources, which helps personalize service and streamline operations. But most importantly, omnichannel capability is about meeting customers where they are. Consistency builds trust: if shoppers encounter a smooth, familiar payment process at every touchpoint, they feel more confident completing the purchase.

As we head into 2025, U.S. commerce leaders are recognizing that omnichannel is the new normal, and payments play a central role in knitting the channels together. Retailers and service providers who haven’t yet unified their payment systems should prioritize doing so – the expectation of a seamless journey is only growing, and falling short could mean losing business to competitors that are more integrated.

Conclusion

The top payment trends for 2025 and beyond paint a picture of a fast, intelligent, and highly convenient payments ecosystem. From AI-driven fraud busting and real-time everything, to embedded and biometric payments that make transactions almost invisible, each innovation is raising the bar for what consumers and businesses consider “standard.” Notably, these trends are interconnected – for instance, real-time payments and open banking APIs together enable new embedded finance models; digital wallets and tokenization together make omnichannel experiences more secure and seamless.

For U.S. businesses, the message is clear: to stay competitive in the coming years, one must embrace payment innovation. The good news is that doing so brings tangible benefits – faster cash flow, higher conversion rates, improved customer loyalty, and access to broader markets. In fact, nearly 72% of businesses globally are prioritizing payment innovations such as AI, blockchain, and real-time rails, underscoring the critical role this area plays in strategy.

Companies should evaluate each trend and ask: How can this improve my customer experience or operations? Whether it’s adding support for a new payment method, upgrading security protocols, or partnering with fintech platforms, preparing for these payment trends will position businesses to thrive in 2025 and beyond. Payments may often work in the background, but their impact on commerce is front and center – and the future of payments in the U.S. looks more exciting and transformative than ever.

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