Ecuadorian digital economy sees streaming growth and cash dominance

Guayaquil will host the third edition of the Live Master International 2026 on August 22 at the Bankers Club. Organized by Agencia Infernus, the official representative of TikTok LIVE in Ecuador, the event aims to evaluate the expansion of the live streaming industry in Latin America. The summit will feature a real-time tournament among eight top-performing creators and a gala to recognize innovation and production quality within the digital economy.

Separately, Mastercard's country manager in Ecuador, Camilo Mier, noted that cash remains the primary competitor to digital wallets and card payments in the country. Mier highlighted that card penetration in household consumption stands at approximately 25% to 26%. He identified a significant gap in payment acceptance, noting that Ecuador has 12 acceptance points per 1,000 inhabitants, compared to over 90 in Chile and Brazil. Mier emphasized the need to reduce costs and expand technology to reach small businesses and rural areas.