Asia Leads Global Digital Wallet Adoption: 77% Online Spend as A2A Payments Surge – Worldpay Report
Asia Pacific continues to dominate as the world's most wallet-led region, with digital wallets accounting for 77% of online transactions worth $2.7 trillion in 2025.
According to a new report from Worldpay, now part of Global Payments, A2A payments are accelerating across the region, driven by national instant payment systems.
Spotlight on Key Markets
In Thailand, the PromptPay network powers 44% of online and 43% of in-person spend, establishing it as one of the most A2A-dominant markets globally.
Hong Kong achieved a milestone in 2025, with digital wallets surpassing cards for the first time at 41% of e-commerce and 45% of POS transaction value.
Singapore remains card-led but sees rising A2A via PayNow, projected to hit 13% of e-commerce and 15% of POS by 2030.
In India, wallets capture 68% of e-commerce and 61% of POS, while South Korea wallets are set to overtake cards entirely by 2030.
A2A Growth Drivers and Future Impact
The surge in A2A payments stems from QR code interoperability among systems like PromptPay, PayNow, and DuitNow, enabling low-cost cross-border transfers.
Historically, Asia's wallet boom traces back to smartphone proliferation and superapps in markets like Indonesia and Malaysia, evolving from card-funded models.
Looking ahead, interoperable standards promise a unified payments corridor, boosting cross-border trade, travel, and digital commerce across APAC.
Phil Pomford, General Manager for Global eCommerce APAC at Global Payments, stated:
“Asia’s payment landscape is evolving faster than anywhere else... Merchants that enable these preferred methods will benefit most from the region’s accelerating digital economy.”
This shift empowers merchants by reducing costs and enhancing customer convenience, potentially reshaping global payment norms with Asia at the forefront.
Overall, APAC's wallet and A2A dominance signals a future where real-time, low-fee transactions become the standard worldwide.
