What are experts saying on what the 'future of payments' looks like for consumers and businesses in the next 2-5 years?

The future of payments is being reshaped by the rise of AI agents, which are predicted to execute the **majority of global payment volume** within the next 10 years [12, 18]. This paradigm shift will move commerce away from traditional websites and mobile apps toward conversational interfaces and APIs, where AI agents representing consumers communicate and transact directly with AI agents representing retailers [1, 30]. Experts believe 2026 will be a key year for the widespread monetization of these AI capabilities [4, 7]. This automation is also expected to dramatically reduce software switching costs, potentially making data portability nearly seamless within one to two years . As a parallel development in user experience, biometric authentication using face, palm, or eye scans is expected to largely replace passwords for payments within a decade, providing a new security layer for this automated ecosystem .

Underpinning this shift is the maturation of programmable money, particularly stablecoins, which are evolving from speculative assets into foundational infrastructure for global payments and corporate treasury management . This transition is projected to be rapid, with one forecast suggesting stablecoins could capture **approximately 33%** of the $500 trillion treasury and intercompany payments sector within three years . This enables a potential unbundling of the financial system, with stablecoins functioning as narrow payment banks and large companies like Meta or Amazon potentially bypassing traditional banking rails entirely [19, 22]. This new infrastructure is fueling the growth of fintech "hyperscalers" that are scaling faster than incumbents and software-based financial utilities that could rival the world's largest banks within a decade [16, 20]. The adoption of AI agents may accelerate this move to new rails, as they could be programmed to optimize for factors beyond traditional consumer rewards, such as transaction speed or cost, and thus favor stablecoins .

These technological changes are occurring alongside significant shifts in consumer behavior and business strategy. Consumers are increasingly "shopping with intention," moving away from big-box stores to support local and small businesses that offer curated products aligned with their personal values [8, 11, 14, 27]. Concurrently, the exponential adoption of GLP-1 drugs, used in **up to 20% of U.S. households** by the end of 2025, is altering consumption patterns and creating new retail opportunities, such as smaller, portion-controlled menu items [3, 5, 6, 9]. For businesses, the competitive landscape is now global by default, making sequential international expansion an obsolete strategy . Modern companies must launch with financial infrastructure capable of supporting localized payment methods, currencies, and tax compliance across hundreds of countries simultaneously to address a customer base that is inherently international .