Financial inclusion has seen extraordinary growth over the last decade, fundamentally altering the economic landscape of rising markets. What started as a push for basic account ownership has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem of active digital participation. In most of these countries, more than half of the population has already made or received a digital payment.

While card ownership is on the rise, this growth is heavily driven by debit cards, which serve as the primary entry point for millions. However, a significant regional divide persists regarding credit: while Latin America maintains a reasonable share of credit card usage, they remain a rarity in the digital commerce landscapes of Africa and Asia, where other payment rails take precedence.

While Latin America remains the unarguable powerhouse in terms of absolute volume, the narrative for 2026 is one of hyper-growth in Africa and Southeast Asia. We are witnessing a new wave of e-commerce, where infrastructure improvements and A2A efficiency are unlocking consumption in previously underserved tiers.

The battle for the checkout page is far from a one-size-fits-all scenario, as each region has developed its own standard for moving money. In Latin America, credit cards maintain their stronghold with a 38% share of sales, significantly bolstered by a deep-rooted installment culture, even as Account-to-Account (A2A) transfers like Pix and Bre-B rapidly close the gap at 31%.

This contrasts sharply with Southeast Asia, where the landscape is dominated by A2A systems (43%) fueled by UPI and local QR standardizations, followed by credit cards (21%) and a strong, consolidating 17% share of digital wallets. Meanwhile, the African market presents a unique blend of tradition and innovation: debit cards lead with 24% of sales, but cash payments remain stubbornly relevant at 22%. Notably, Africa is the only region where mobile money (14%) and A2A (13%) are almost neck-and-neck, reflecting a fragmented but fast-evolving ecosystem that prioritizes mobile-first accessibility.

To truly understand rising markets, one must look past the regional averages. Use the filters below to explore the specific trajectory of each country, from the established giants to the rising stars of Central America and Sub-Saharan Africa.