Digital currencies lead Asia payment coverage at 26%

Quick response code and wallet connectivity ranked second with a 24% share.

Digital currencies, stablecoins and tokenisation were the most widely discussed cross-border payments topics in Asia, appearing in 26% of more than 1,000 industry articles reviewed over the past year.

QR codes and digital wallet interoperability followed at 24%, according to Money 20/20 and FXC Intelligence’s The New Era of Asia’s Cross-Border Payments report.

Coverage focused on making retail payment systems work across different countries, particularly by connecting QR code networks and digital wallets.

National real-time payment links accounted for 19% of the discussion. These initiatives aim to connect domestic payment systems so that money can be transferred between countries more quickly.

Remittances and financial inclusion represented 13% of the coverage. Discussion in this area often focused on reducing problems in existing cross-border payment systems and improving access to financial services.

Artificial intelligence accounted for 9% of the articles. Its use in regulatory compliance was one of the main areas discussed as the technology gained more attention across the region.

Local currency settlement made up 7% of the coverage. Interest was linked to geopolitical pressures and efforts to reduce reliance on the US dollar for international transactions.

The findings show that the industry’s main priorities for 2026 are improving links between payment systems, expanding the use of digital payment technologies and addressing the cost and complexity of cross-border transactions.