Newsletter sign-up
Does my company subscribe?
Contact Sales:1-800-405-0844
EMARKETER
Log in
Become a ClientGet a DemoPricing
ArticlesPricing

Products

See All Solutions →
By ProductEMARKETER PRO+Analyst Access Program
By Use CaseDetermine Market SizingDevelop StrategiesAllocate BudgetBenchmark PerformanceWin New BusinessDevelop Go-to-Market StrategyStay InformedThought LeadershipSee All Use Cases →
Advertising & Sponsorship
Boost your brand and generate demand with media programs.
Learn More →

Events & Resources

Learning Center
Read through guides, explore resource hubs, and sample our coverage.
Learn More →
Events
Register for an upcoming webinar and track which industry events our analysts attend.
Learn More →
Podcasts
Listen to our podcast, Behind the Numbers for the latest news and insights.
Learn More →

Topics

See All Topics →
Advertising & MarketingSocial MediaContent MarketingEmail MarketingVideoBrowse All →
Ecommerce & RetailEcommerce SalesMcommerceRetail SalesSocial CommerceBrowse All →
Financial ServicesBankingPaymentsFintechWealth ManagementBrowse All →
GeographiesAsia-PacificCentral & Eastern EuropeLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaNorth AmericaWestern Europe
HealthValue-Based CareDigital TherapeuticsTelehealthOnline PharmacyBrowse All →
TechnologyConnected Devices5GArtificial Intelligence (AI)Browse All →
More IndustriesReal EstateCustomer ExperienceB2BTravelSmall Business (SMB)Browse All →

Latest Articles

Explore our Research →

The big answers: EMARKETER Daily quiz

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

FAQ on Gen Z: How marketers can reach this generation in 2026

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

FAQ on livestream commerce: What marketers need to know about live shopping in 2026

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

Marketers insist on ethics as AI agents reshape shopping

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

FAQ on the creator economy: How marketers can stand out in 2026

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

How the gap between luxury and affordability will shape retail in 2026

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

Marketing snafu costs Capital One $425 million—and consumer trust

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

Stablecoin rules become a flashpoint for bankers

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

Schwab’s content marketing expansion will help it target the emerging affluent

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026

Amazon, Meta, and others strike licensing deals with Wikimedia

Article |
 Jan 16, 2026
Browse All →

About

Our Story
Learn more about our mission and how EMARKETER came to be.
Learn More →
Our Clients
Key decision-makers share why they find EMARKETER so critical.
Learn More →
Our People
Take a look into our corporate culture and view our open roles.
Join the Team →
Our Methodology
Rigorous proprietary data vetting strips biases and produces superior insights.
Learn More →
Newsroom
See our latest press releases, news articles or download our press kit.
Learn More →
Contact Us
Speak to a member of our team to learn more about EMARKETER.
Contact Us →
EMARKETER

Payments Trends to Watch in 2026

Stablecoins Surge, Agentic AI Accelerates, and Financial Platforms Battle for the Next Commerce Frontier

Report by Grace Broadbent, Sarah Marzano  |  Dec 3, 2025

Top Trends to Watch in 2026

Need-to-Know Trends Reshaping the Digital Future

more
Download
Report
Share
Table of Contents
Payment players race to define their place in the stablecoin ecosystem
Financial media networks will acquire shopping surfaces to compete for commerce budgets
Payment players are betting big on agentic commerce—before consumers are ready for it
AI automates credit card rewards personalization
A two-track credit card economy: Premium cards thrive, while lower-tier cards struggle
Sources
Media Gallery
About This Report
In 2026, stablecoins, agentic commerce, and AI-driven rewards will reshape the payments industry. Providers need to bet early or risk being sidelined by faster, cheaper, and more intuitive payment experiences.
Topics
Payments
Financial Services
United States
Table of Contents
Payment players race to define their place in the stablecoin ecosystem
Financial media networks will acquire shopping surfaces to compete for commerce budgets
Payment players are betting big on agentic commerce—before consumers are ready for it
AI automates credit card rewards personalization
A two-track credit card economy: Premium cards thrive, while lower-tier cards struggle
Sources
Media Gallery

Amid a shifting technological, regulatory, and economic backdrop, 2026 will force payment providers to rethink their strategies. From agentic commerce and AI-based personalization to stablecoins, payment providers will need to pivot to fit into this new payments era and meet shifting consumer expectations.

authors

Grace Broadbent, Sarah Marzano

Contributors

Chris Keating
Tiffani Montez
Emma Noyes
Graphic Designer, Data Visualization
Myra Thomas
Emman Velasco
Chart Editor
Julia Woolever
Ali Young
Senior Copy Editor and Manager of Content Operations
Already have a subscription?Sign In

Access All Charts and Data

Gain access to reliable data presented in clear and intelligible displays for quick understanding and decision making on the most important topics related to your industry

Become a Client
Unlock Unlimited Insights with PRO+
EMARKETER

Geographies

EMARKETER

Media Services

Free Content

Contact Us →

Worldwide HQ

One Liberty Plaza9th FloorNew York, NY 100061-800-405-0844

Sales Inquiries

1-800-405-0844sales@emarketer.com

* Copyright © 2026 
EMARKETER Inc. All Rights Reserved.