Where payments are moving: from crypto to AI commerce

As the year winds down, Monoup team traditionally looks ahead: What awaits us in 2026? What key payment trends will drive the industry in the coming year? Let’s discuss all of this today.

Some notable changes took place in 2025 — definitely there were highs and lows. Account-to-Account (A2A) payment methods evolved, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) emerged in various countries, global trade priorities shifted, while AML monitoring and sanctions controls tightened. All of this will undoubtedly continue to impact payment systems, and we’re eager to share our insights with you.

The payment industry is transforming right before our eyes, and it’s easy to miss these changes amid daily tasks. That’s why you have our media platform. Let’s dive in!

AI and Agentic Payments

Undoubtedly, the biggest trend that has already made waves in the industry is artificial intelligence and payments via chatbots. In the corporate world, this vision is already taking shape: an AI assistant notices that coffee supplies are running low, compares prices from three suppliers, selects the best option, and autonomously completes the payment — all in a matter of seconds and without human intervention. For individual users, it’s even simpler: you discuss with ChatGPT your desire to update the summer wardrobe, and it immediately suggests options in your preferred color palette, checks availability on brand websites, and makes the payment for you. All you need to do is give a clear command.

In recent months, major industry players have launched a race to build agentic infrastructure. Visa introduced Intelligent Commerce, a platform that tokenizes cards, allowing AI agents to make secure payments on behalf of users by leveraging purchase history for decision-making. Mastercard rolled out Agent Pay in partnership with Microsoft for B2B scenarios, while Stripe unveiled the Agent Toolkit, which issues single-use virtual cards with budget limits for each agent transaction.

Google went even further by announcing the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), an open standard designed to address three critical issues simultaneously: authorization (proving the agent has the right to spend money), authenticity (confirming the user’s true intent), and accountability (determining who is responsible for errors). PayPal is also actively integrating into this space, partnering with OpenAI in its plans to become the primary payment method for agent-driven purchases.

Additionally, forecasts suggest that by 2028, 33% of corporate software will incorporate AI, enabling automation of up to 15% of daily workflow decisions. Many professionals are understandably concerned about job security — and for good reason: AI truly can handle a lot. In payments, it’s not just a purchasing tool but also a technology for improving the efficiency of routine tasks. It has made the most progress in compliance, fraud detection, and analytics. Since agents can analyze vast amounts of data online in minutes, their involvement genuinely enhances payments and processes. Humans understand nuances better, but they can’t process data as quickly. Combining human and AI approaches can yield significant results faster while minimizing each participant’s weaknesses.

Embedded Finance

Seamless finance, or embedded finance, is the principle of integrating financial services directly into non-financial platforms. This primarily includes credit lines or insurance within e-commerce apps. For example, when booking a hotel, you can instantly arrange insurance without leaving the app — no need to visit third-party sites or fill out bank forms. This creates a seamless experience, even though multiple companies and intermediaries may be involved behind the scenes. The customer doesn’t see this complexity; they receive all services at once.

The U.S. market of embedded finance has surged, with over 10% of all payments in the country expected to follow this model in 2026. The numbers are impressive, but even more fascinating is how quickly the nature of financial service interactions is changing. Consumers demand a smooth experience — no one wants to leave their favorite app to make a payment or take out a loan. Tech giants have set the bar high: Amazon with its embedded credit options, Apple with Pay Later on its own balance, and Google with payment integrations everywhere possible. Now, everyone else is forced to catch up, creating enormous opportunities for those who understand how to embed finance into their products correctly. It’s not just banks that can compete in this market.

SaaS companies can add payment capabilities for their users, transforming from simple software into full-fledged financial infrastructure. Imagine a CRM that not only tracks invoices but also allows instant payments with a single click, or an HR system that issues payroll cards and advances to employees. These services already exist, but next year, even more will emerge, and they’ll become faster.

Of course, there are some challenges. Regulatory requirements aren’t going away — licenses, compliance, and KYC/AML procedures are still vital. That’s why demand for Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers like Stripe, Unit, and Treasury Prime is growing. These providers handle all regulatory aspects, while platforms receive a ready-made white-label product. This reduces potential revenue but allows for a launch in months rather than years. At the same time, speed and convenience come at a cost. Customers using these services will have to pay slightly more for the bundled service than if they booked a hotel in one place and bought insurance in another. But here, convenience takes priority over price.

Additionally, it will become even harder for new market entrants to compete with giants. They won’t be able to offer everything at once, and their terms will need to be so attractive that users will want to abandon their favorite apps and switch to new ones.

Stablecoins

Stablecoins, once confined to the wallets of crypto enthusiasts, have now become a serious tool for international payments, recognized by global leaders. Over the past year, USDT and USDC processed transactions worth $28 trillion — more than Visa and Mastercard combined.

What makes stablecoins so appealing to businesses? Well, not surprisingly, speed and cost. Traditional international bank transfers take one to five business days and cost an average of 5–15% of the transaction amount, considering all associated fees. Stablecoins transfer money in seconds, often with fees under a dollar on blockchains like Solana or Polygon. Plus, everything operates 24/7, including weekends and holidays — no banking hours or days off.

Given how quickly global fintech have adopted stablecoins and begun issuing their own, it’s safe to say this is now mainstream. This is especially important where traditional payments are significantly more expensive. Sending $10,000 to countries in Africa via bank transfer means losing hundreds in fees. A stablecoin transaction would cost just a couple of dollars. For companies dealing with international payments or regular transactions in these regions, savings can reach 98% on transaction costs.

Platforms like BVNK, TransFi, and Mural provide ready-made infrastructure for B2B transactions. What once sounded unclear is now seen as innovative and essential — Coinbase has highlighted the importance of BVNK’s services, driving up the company’s valuation with its buying offer. Major fintech firms have adopted stablecoins as the foundation for clearing and back-end payments. Users don’t need to buy crypto to purchase everyday goods, but merchants selling those goods can already benefit from fast payouts via stablecoins. One of the first to embrace this was Nuvei, a payment system popular among gaming companies. By integrating crypto conversions, Nuvei accelerated payout processes for merchants, eliminating the need for them to wait weeks. In traditional acquiring, settlement can take one to three weeks, often because providers can’t process them faster due to banking infrastructure and international transfers. However, with stablecoins, this period can be reduced to days or even hours.

Instant Payments

It might not sound groundbreaking for 2026, but it’s a fact: many countries still lack reliable payment networks for instant transfers. This includes the European Union. Instant payments in the EU were launched in the fall of 2025, and the coming year will be a period of testing and initial significant results.

While fintech and wallets have been offering this service routinely, traditional banking systems remained slow to adapt to the modern world, especially in the U.S. and EU. But in 2026, 80% of companies plan to use instant payments, compared to just 51% in 2024. Beyond the obvious benefits for B2B operations, this is also a qualitative leap forward for B2C. Previously, if a customer preferred to pay for a service or product via bank transfer, order processing was delayed because the merchant had to wait for the transfer to arrive — typically 2–3 days. With instant payments, order processing also becomes instant, improving satisfaction not only with payments but also with other services.

The adoption of instant payments across all possible business processes will become more noticeable in 2026, further accelerating payment flows.

In summary, the coming year will be defined by speed and efficiency, fitting for the Year of the Horse according to the Lunar Calendar. All the solutions being implemented or planned are based on dynamics and fundamental transformation of existing processes. The world is evolving, and payments must keep the pace. To stay updated on these innovations, follow our Telegram channel. We regularly share the most important news and insights that will undoubtedly benefit your business.