The top three digital payment trends for 2024

Irene Skrynova, Chief Customer Officer at Unlimit, unveils the top three digital payment trends set to make waves in 2024.

There’s a huge opportunity for fintech and payments coming from increasing customer demand for seamless payment experiences in the new year. This has become a major driver of embedded financial applications, and I expect it to continue to expand and transform the way consumers discover and interact with financial services.

Today's customers expect to be able to perform financial transactions safely and securely without having to redirect to complete their purchases. This year we've seen a massive shift to embedded finance to make everything easier for consumers, which I suppose is merely the precursor to a broader horizon that encompasses machine-to-machine payments.

In the fintech space, there are massive gains to be made regarding integrating AI, improving cashless transactions, and leveraging blockchain and stablecoins. I think, in 2024, we are going to witness fintech really focus on automating financial decisions and facilitating transactions with minimal human intervention.

Next year, I believe we can expect several digital payment innovations. Of course, with the boom in general AI we’ve seen over the last year, we can expect further integration of AI into payment systems. Payments providers will be keen to provide customers with a more customised experience, more personalisation options, and offer a higher degree of transaction security.

One of the biggest shifts I think we’ll see in 2024, however, will be the continued growth of contactless payments. The touchless transactions trend is completely in sync with customers' desire for convenience. The future of contactless payments holds the potential for an exciting shift in the way we transact. While current methods still involve forex exchanges and fluctuating exchange rates, I think we’re moving towards a future in which stablecoin currencies become widely accepted, minimising the complexities associated with fluctuating exchange rates.

If we come to that, universally accepted stablecoins would streamline and simplify transactions for consumers. It would eliminate the need to convert currencies when making cross-border payments, as the stablecoins would have a fixed value across different countries and regions. This would make international transactions more efficient and cost-effective, as consumers would no longer be subject to exchange fees or unfavourable rates.

Furthermore, the widespread acceptance of a stablecoin currency would promote financial inclusion and accessibility. It would provide individuals who are unbanked or underbanked with secure and accessible means of conducting financial transactions. By leveraging the power of blockchain technology and decentralised networks, stablecoin payments could be made through mobile devices, making financial services accessible to the wider population.

Looking ahead to the new year, the major payment trends will be the convergence of financial services and seamless customer experiences. This will involve further integration of financial products and services into everyday transactions. For example, financial institutions and fintechs can be expected to provide value-added services at the point of sale. This could include instant financing options, personalised financial advice, loyalty rewards tied to payments, and more.

The goal for payment providers is to create a holistic, user-centric financial ecosystem that simplifies financial decision-making and improves customer satisfaction. Such innovations not only strengthen customer loyalty but also strengthen financial inclusion and engagement in the digital economy as a whole.

About Irene Skrynova

Irene Skyrnova is the Chief Customer Officer at Unlimit. She is responsible for all client interactions and for building the company’s long-term customer strategy. Irene is an expert in customer experience, success, cryptocurrencies, and ecommerce. She began her career in finance by working with development projects for white-label trading platforms and cryptocurrencies and has worked across the trading, brokerage, and crypto markets. She boasts a breadth of international experience, holding roles that span public relations and marketing to customer care and business development.

About Unlimit

Founded in 2009, Unlimit is a global fintech company that offers a large portfolio of financial services, including payment processing, banking as a service (BaaS), and an on ramp fiat solution for crypto, DeFi, and GameFi.