5 digital payment trends investors should pay attention to
In this day and age, more customers are choosing to buy things and make payments through digital means. Cashless transactions are no longer some strange, alien technology; making payments using this method has been the norm in Australia and many parts of the world for quite some time now.
With this new era of payment, there are various innovations in the financial landscape that have popped up that capitalise on this shifting trend. And if you want to take advantage of these trends, it’s essential to be aware of the current and future trends to ensure that you can stay ahead of the competition if (and when) these speculations materialise into reality.
So if you’re on the lookout for future trends in the digital payment space, you’re in the right place. We’ll give you some insights on the trends that are here to stay and influence the space that’ll happen in the last quarter of 2025 and beyond.
Let’s jump right into it.
1. Contactless Payments are Here to Stay
As the old adage goes, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And this philosophy holds true for contactless payment options. In today’s digital savvy world, most people now use contactless payment modes to facilitate payments across a wide variety of services and shops.
The sheer convenience of this method plus the widespread prevalence both contribute to its continued presence in the Australian market. Whether it’s tapping a card at the supermarket or using mobile apps for public transport, contactless has become the default mode of payment in Australia and much of the world.
The popularity of contactless payments is due to its seamlessness and ability to fit into everyday routines. We’re almost always on our phones, and instead of fumbling for our wallets, we have the option to just hold up our phone to a payment terminal and pay, as simple as that.
As an investor, it’s in your best interest to ensure that you’re investing in businesses that uphold this payment infrastructure.
This increases the odds of customers following through with their purchase as they’re more likely to have this form of payment readily available in their smartphone. This is unlike the case for cash, where having the exact amount of a specific currency like AUD isn’t always a guarantee.
2. PoS System Technologies Become Portable
Another trend that investors can bet will happen is the proliferation of a new wave of PoS systems across various stores and businesses.
Point-of-sales systems no longer need to take the form of bulky registers or fixed counters. Instead, these pieces of equipment take on a more compact and portable shape in the form of EFTPOS systems. There are different types of EFTPOS systems as well, making it highly likely to find one that fits a plethora of business needs.
Not only are these systems logistically simpler to handle due to their simple installation process, but they also come at a more affordable rate due to their smaller nature. Furthermore, they can be brought around from place to place—making them excellent financial assets for businesses that are constantly on the go, like food trucks, home services, and pop-up stores.
Its compact nature isn’t the only benefit of this device. It’s also equipped with an abundance of business management tools that can facilitate the payment and bookkeeping process more accurately and quickly than a human can. From inventory tracking to receipt generation, this PoS machine redefines sales tracking in the modern era.
And for investors looking to ensure that they’re hopping into relevant technologies that are future-proof and revolutionary, then investing in this brand of PoS systems (and businesses that use them) is a smart play for those taking a more forward-looking approach.
3. More Consumers Follow BNPL Models
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) models, or an on-site payment model that allows customers to borrow money and pay it back in instalments, are no longer the new and experimental model that they once were.
They’re something that many consumers, particularly younger people with less liquid funds, are utilising to acquire items that they otherwise would be priced out of in marketplaces like Amazon.
BNPL models are different from credit cards in that they’re tied directly to a retail shopping platform. This makes it more accessible for the average consumer, allowing them to make payments on a spread-out and monthly basis with ease.
With financial platforms like Afterpay and Zip capitalising on this behaviour, more and more platforms are featuring this form of payment in their in-store checkout pages and shopping carts.
While regulation regarding this form of payment is still developing, this landscape is likely here to stay in one form or another due to its sheer user-friendliness.
And as everyday things get pricier and liquidity becomes a priority for the everyday individual, this payment model is sure to rise in the future to meet the consumer demand of improved cash flow.
4. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Remain Relevant
While the current state of cryptocurrency reflects a top-heavy market, blockchain and altcoins still hold some weight in 2025 and beyond.
Zooming out, crypto has undergone a massive transformation in a relatively short timespan—from being a speculative asset riddled with controversy to something more mature with legitimate infrastructure and policies surrounding it across countries.
In Australia, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are still widely traded and accepted as legitimate digital assets. Beyond investment, blockchain’s role has evolved into something much broader, fueling efficient transactions across a variety of industries.
In essence, blockchain has moved past the hype stage and found its practical footing. For investors, the focus now lies in ensuring that the infrastructure, institutional confidence, and real-world adoption are steadily growing, or at the very least affixed on stable ground.
And while the underlying crypto market may appear wobbly at times, investing in crypto and crypto-adjacent firms is no longer the same gamble that it was once back in the early 2010s. A quick look at various stores in Australia’s major cities confirms this—with many businesses accepting Bitcoin as a form of payment for their goods and services.
5. Super Apps May Be The Future
A super app is an all-in-one app that does a lot of things in a single platform. It’s a concept popular in Asian countries like China and the Philippines, and it’s not unlikely for this concept to spread to Western markets and Australia as well.
One popular example of a super app in China is WeChat. This app may have started as a messaging app, but it has since evolved into something more comprehensive. Essentially, it allows users to pay bills, book rides, order food, shop, and handle bank transactions in a single ecosystem.
In Australia, it’s not unlikely for established apps or businesses to follow suit and merge financial services with lifestyle features. The interest in convenience is already there with contactless payment methods.
It’s only a matter of time for a multi-service model to come out in a few years, and when it does appear and is executed in a way that appeals to the Australian market, it’s likely going to revolutionise the way Aussies spend time on their phones to perform a range of tasks.
We hope we’ve given you enough insights on trends to pay attention in the digital payment space. All the best in moving forward with these investments!
