What shapes consumer transactions and payment technologies, and where is it going?
Rapid changes in technology, regulation, and consumer behavior continue to reshape the payments industry. Javelin’s payments research team tracks commercial and consumer payment trends, evaluates emerging payment technologies, and anticipates what’s next. Through unbiased research, data-driven insights, and actionable advice, we help financial institutions, payments providers, and technology companies develop strategies that position them for success in a rapidly evolving market.
Payments Research
Reports
Divided Government, Unfinished Rails: Commercial and Enterprise Payments in the 120th Congress
Commercial payments won’t get the spotlight in the 120th Congress, but they won’t escape its ripple effects. As a consumer-focused Democratic majority takes over, a revived credit card competition bill could reach virtual cards and the rebates t...
Lame Duck, Not Dead: How Credit Card Issuers Should Prepare for the 120th Congress
The names and bill numbers may change, but Washington’s push to reshape the credit card business isn’t going away. Lawmakers are looking at interchange, interest rates, fees, and card routing, putting pressure on the industry’s biggest revenue s...
2026 Emerging Biometric Authentication at the Point of Sale Scorecard: Biometric Escapes the Checkout
This second annual Javelin Strategy & Research scorecard assesses the emerging market for biometric authentication at the point of sale and identifies three pillars in this emerging technology, each with its own Best in Class vendor. Wink won fo...
2027 Commercial & Enterprise Trends
Commercial payments are approaching a major shift as agentic AI, payment orchestration, and virtual cards begin to converge. AI agents will help enterprises decide when and how to pay, while orchestration will determine how those decisions move ...
2027 Credit Payments Trends
The U.S. credit card market continues to deliver strong growth and profitability, but the strategies that drive success are evolving. Agentic AI is reshaping acquisition, underwriting, and risk management, while rewards are expanding beyond trad...
2027 Debit Payments Trends
Debit is no longer just a payments card. Digital wallets, instant payments, buy-now, pay-later options, and new rewards models are changing where consumers transact and how they expect money to move. As fintechs, payment networks, and loyalty pr...
2027 Digital Assets & Cryptocurrency Trends
As digital assets mature, financial institutions are shifting their focus from experimentation to utility. Tokenized collateral is emerging as a compelling use case for improving liquidity and balance sheet efficiency, while stablecoins and toke...
2027 Emerging Payments Trends
The next stage of payments will be shaped by automation, identity, and intelligence as much as by the movement of money itself. New capabilities are emerging that may alter customer interactions, redefine trust frameworks, and enable entirely ne...
2027 Merchant Payments Trends
Payments are becoming less visible to consumers but more strategic for institutions and providers. As checkout fades into the background, payment-page design has given way to the infrastructure that enables seamless, trusted transactions. Acquir...
2027 Prepaid Payments Trends
The prepaid market is entering a new phase, where measurement depends less on unused balances and more on how programs drive spending, loyalty, and engagement. In 2027, gift cards will become growth tools, small and locally owned merchants will ...