The cross-border payments market continues to grow year after year, with projections reaching $250 trillion by 2027 (ACI Worldwide). This expansion is fueled by digitalization, the surge in international transactions, and the constant evolution of payment methods.
Along with growth, however, come new layers of complexity and competition in an increasingly dynamic sector. It is no longer enough to simply follow the latest developments. Companies must understand the impact of key trends throughout this year in order to analyze these shifts carefully and build a solid strategic plan for the year ahead.
2025 in perspective: advances and lasting impacts
From the beginning of the year until now, we have seen several movements take shape in the cross-border payments market, showing how technological innovation and consumer behavior evolve hand in hand.
Real-Time Payments (RTP), for example, have advanced significantly, redefining liquidity and predictability in international transactions. This shift is closely tied to a new consumer profile that demands greater speed and convenience, which in turn has driven another critical trend: the rise of Customer Experience as a decisive competitive factor.
Beyond these developments, other trends remained at the center of industry discussions and evolved at different paces, reinforcing that the cross-border payments market is in constant transformation. Among them:
- The progress of Digital Currencies and the development of CBDCs
- The application of Artificial Intelligence for fraud prevention, raising security standards
- The expansion of Digital Wallets, which continue to gain ground as global payment methods
- The strengthening of Open Banking and the adoption of ISO 20022, laying more integrated and standardized foundations
- A growing focus on sustainability, increasingly present in the long-term strategies of companies and financial institutions
Looking ahead: strategy and planning
Assessing what has already materialized in the payments industry is not just about observation. It is about turning trends into growth opportunities. In 2026, companies that align their strategies with the changes that gained traction this year will be better positioned to achieve efficiency, scale their operations, and stand out in an intensely competitive international market.
With this in mind, we created a free eBook that provides an overview of how these trends are shaping the market and offers insights to help your company plan strategically for the year ahead. Download your copy now.
