2026 COMMERCE AND PAYMENT TRENDS REPORT

Cascading innovation:

Investing in payments is creating new opportunities and experiences

Collage of various types of payment methods

The Global Payments 2026 Commerce and Payment Trends Report is here—your guide to the next era of connected commerce. As consumers embrace new technologies and demand experiences that move seamlessly across channels, this report helps business leaders meet them there.

This report focuses on six key trends reshaping the future of commerce. From the rise of agentic commerce, where AI-powered systems anticipate and act on customer intent, to the evolution of point-of-sale (POS) technologies that extend beyond the countertop, and the expansion of embedded payments that make every interaction frictionless—these shifts are defining the next competitive edge.

Explore how these forces are converging to create smarter, more adaptive commerce ecosystems that can make or break businesses in 2026 and beyond.

Download the 2026 Report

Man at work table smiling and working on laptop with mobile phone showing and message reading - This item is available from other sellers.

AI is your
shopping agent:

TREND 1

Agentic Commerce is
taking shape

In every sphere of business, AI is rewriting the rules of productivity and process. With agentic commerce, customers are experiencing the benefits of autonomous connection at scale.

Woman at an outdoor koisk paying with phone and message on screen - transaction approved.

The POS is everywhere:

TREND 2

How the POS revolution
is unfolding

The modern POS has broken free of the countertop, expanding the possibilities of payment far beyond a static terminal. It’s becoming a dynamic touchpoint for personalized engagement—one that unites transactions, customer data, and tailored experiences.

Woman at a high-top table using her laptop and smiling with onscreen message - Your item

Embedded finance gets
more accessible:

TREND 3

Embedded finance lets main street businesses flex

Embedded finance today has become more than a handful of apps and tools that bolt financial tools services onto legacy platforms. Today, it is a core part of how businesses expand their relationships with consumers.

Woman in a retail store paying at handheld POS with her phone with onscreen message - $7.81 transaction approved

When you need your money now:

TREND 4

Instant payments become an urgent need

Just as people expect to complete transactions instantly, they want access to their money instantly. Thanks to the acceleration of infrastructure for instant payments, they are increasingly getting what they want.

Smiling man sitting on the floor with laptop with onscreen message - Pay via Crypto $121

Crypto’s moment?

TREND 5

Stablecoins take the stage – what you need to know

Stablecoins broke onto the scene in the past year and have quickly captured the attention of businesses throughout the payment ecosystem. The challenge lies in transforming them from speculative, crypto-native mechanisms into functional, enterprise-grade financial products.

Man at kiosk paying for something at a self-service kiosk with onscreen message - Tap to pay

Frictionless by design

TREND 6

How self-service payment has reshaped the consumer experience

Several years into the self-service revolution, both consumers and business users expect to fly through transactions without a counterpart, using intuitive, self-directed tools including payment prompts. Self-service now means low-touch, no-waiting commerce: It’s commerce at the speed of now.