Executive Summary

Payments are set to break physical and digital borders in 2022, connecting the world in more ways than ever. Innovations will lower barriers for payments across countries and continents, and the rise of super apps will bring all of consumers’ financial needs—including payments—into a single place. Meanwhile, innovations in lending will extend credit to once-inaccessible segments.

Questions this report covers:

• How will state-sponsored central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) impact the payments landscape in their respective markets?
• Who is best positioned to gain from the rise of buy now, pay later (BNPL)—and will regulation impact their trajectory?
• What will the rise of super apps mean for payments titans looking to maintain or grow their share of the space?
• Why are payments providers attracted to sub-Saharan Africa?

KEY STAT: Some 44.1% of US Gen Zers are expected to use BNPL in 2022, a higher share than those of all other generations.