Payment trends show rising mobile and digital wallet usage

Recent data highlights a shifting landscape in payment methods across the Eurozone and Germany. An European Central Bank survey of 8,205 companies across 21 countries shows that cash acceptance in physical retail locations, such as restaurants and hotels, has slightly increased to 92 percent in 2026, up from 90 percent in 2024.

While cash remains the most widespread method, mobile payments are growing rapidly, rising from 36 percent in 2024 to 68 percent within two years. Meanwhile, card payments remain stable at 88 percent. Companies are increasingly investing in digital infrastructure, with 13 percent having already introduced self-service checkouts.

In Germany, the e-commerce sector is seeing a significant shift toward payment apps. According to the Worldpay Global Payments Report 2026, digital wallets accounted for 52 percent of German e-commerce transaction value in 2025. Other significant methods included Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) at 18 percent and Account-to-Account (A2A) payments at 15 percent. Traditional credit cards represented only 11 percent of online transactions. Experts note that while digital wallets act as the visible interface for consumers, traditional bank accounts and debit cards often remain the underlying technical infrastructure.