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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

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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.

Here’s what’s in the full report

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5charts

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Table of Contents

  1. Payment players race to define their place in the stablecoin ecosystem
  2. Financial media networks will acquire shopping surfaces to compete for commerce budgets
  3. Payment players are betting big on agentic commerce—before consumers are ready for it
  1. AI automates credit card rewards personalization
  2. A two-track credit card economy: Premium cards thrive, while lower-tier cards struggle
  3. Sources
  1. Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

Banks and Payment Providers Prepare for Stablecoin IntegrationFinancial Media’s Tiny Share of Commerce Media Spend Reveals an Urgency to Evolve, (billions in US financial media network ad spending and % of total commerce media ad spending, 2023-2027)
Shoppers Are Using AI Platforms for Basic Brand and Product ResearchRewards Are a Key Consideration for Consumers When Choosing a Cash-Back Credit Card
Cash Back on Everyday Credit Card Purchases, Like Groceries and Gas, Are Top of Mind for Consumers

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
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