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
Speed Matters in Gift Card Redemption: Snapshots from Javelin’s 2026 Prepaid Consumer Sentiment Survey
Why do some prepaid gift cards drive faster spending, stronger engagement, and more future purchases than others? This report shows how redemption speed shapes behaviors across gift recipients and self-users, uncovering where promotions, design,...
The Technology Product Owner: New Rules, New Roles at FIs
As banks decide to monetize data and deploy AI, a new kind of employee is becoming critical to turning technology into revenue. Product owners who blend finance, technology, and strategy are reshaping decision-making at financial institutions. T...
The Mandate Is the Message: How the CFO’s Expanding Remit Shaped Payments Provider Strategy
The CFO’s role has expanded through two decades of shocks, technology shifts, shareholder pressure, and changing capital conditions. This report examines how each era reshaped what finance leaders had to prove and how treasury services and comme...
Debit Network Control: The Battleground Is No Longer Just Rates
Debit networks are being reshaped by regulation, shifting transaction mix toward e-commerce and digital wallets, and increased competition extending into card-not-present environments. Looking ahead, potential interchange cap changes and merchan...
Regulatory Issues in Credit Cards: Preparing for the World of AI
From constitutional preemption to modern AI, the forces shaping credit cards are more complex and consequential than ever. Federal dominance, limited state influence, and evolving consumer protections create a tightly controlled system where inn...
Every Merchant Needs a Chief Payments Officer
Payments are no longer just a cost center for merchants; they’re a strategic lever for growth. As responsibilities fragment across finance, IT, and operations, hidden costs and missed revenue opportunities multiply. This report reveals why tradi...
How SoFiUSD Is Pointing Toward the Broader Stablecoin Future
SoFiUSD is not just another branded stablecoin competing for consumer attention. Its launch shows how stablecoins may enter banking through settlement, issuer processing, embedded finance, and vendor infrastructure before customers ever ask to h...
Digital IDs and Mobile Driver’s Licenses: Acceptance Remains the Key Constraint
Issuance of mobile driver’s licenses and digital IDs is rising and awareness is building, yet adoption is stalling where it matters most: real-world use. The next wave of value will come from convergence across wallets, biometrics, and acceptanc...
Agentic AI and the Rise of Forward Deployed Employees in Financial Services
Frontier AI partnerships are rapidly reshaping how financial institutions operate, from embedded engineers influencing product strategy to agentic systems driving critical workflows. These deeper collaborations promise significant gains, but the...
The Virtual Economy: Five Forces Driving Virtual Card Adoption in 2026
2026 may prove to be an inflection point year for virtual cards as better data, embedded workflows, flexible pricing, and agentic orchestration improve execution, while macroeconomic pressure sharpens the working-capital case. The opportunity is...