Payments in 2026: AI, Stablecoins and Digital Identity Mark a Turning Point

According to data from Visa’s “2026 Payments Outlook” report, 2026 is set to mark a structural turning point in the payments sector. Technologies that until now were seen as emerging trends, such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and digital assets, are moving into a central role in the global economy.

Visa’s analysis identifies five major trends that will shape the sector in the coming years.

1. Agentic commerce moves mainstream

One of the most significant changes will be the consolidation of so-called agentic commerce. According to Visa, AI-based digital assistants will be able to search, compare prices and complete purchases on behalf of consumers.

This means that in online retail, features such as “Buy for me” buttons could become common, with a digital agent making decisions based on preferences previously defined by the user. This new model increases convenience, but also reinforces the need for robust security mechanisms, including tokenized payments and verified digital identity.

2. Identity protection enters the AI era

The same technology that simplifies the shopping experience is also being used by criminal networks. Visa warns that the growth of AI-driven fraud will make digital identity protection even more critical.

The theft of complete identities, rather than isolated card details, will be one of the main threats. For this reason, 2026 is seen as a decisive year to strengthen cooperation between financial institutions, technology companies, merchants and public authorities, with the aim of developing more sophisticated security solutions and shared fraud response capabilities.

3. Stablecoins gain scale

Another trend highlighted in the report is the consolidation of stablecoins as a relevant part of the global payments infrastructure.

Driven by greater regulatory clarity, these digital currencies pegged to stable assets are expected to expand particularly in international payments, business transfers and remittances. Their use could reduce costs and speed up cross-border operations, which are traditionally slower and more expensive.

4. The decline of manual checkout

Manual entry of card details in e-commerce is expected to progressively disappear. According to Visa, tokenized credentials and integrated digital wallets will significantly reduce the need for manually entering information.

This evolution translates into a faster and simpler payment experience, with a direct impact on reducing fraud and lowering cart abandonment rates. The less friction at checkout, the higher the conversion rate for merchants.

5. Cash remains, but loses ground

Despite rapid digital acceleration, cash will not disappear. Still, 2026 is expected to be the first year in which the majority of global payments are made through electronic methods.

Contactless payments and mobile wallets will continue gaining ground, especially in low-value transactions traditionally dominated by cash. The scenario outlined by Visa points to a gradual but clear transition toward an increasingly digital system.

A decisive year for the sector

Overall, Visa’s data shows that 2026 will not be just another year of incremental innovation. It will be a moment of consolidation. Artificial intelligence, tokenization, stablecoins and digital wallets are moving from experimental technologies to essential infrastructure.

The challenge will not lie only in technological adoption, but in the ability of the payments ecosystem to ensure trust, security and interoperability in an increasingly automated and digital environment.