Italian digital payments grew 13.5% in 2025, reaching 12.3 billion operations. Debit cards lead, accounting for 60.4% of card payment value. Contactless and instant transfers also saw significant increases.
As digital payments rise in Australia, cafes and restaurants grapple with integrated tipping prompts. While some owners embrace it, many express concern over customer pressure and maintain traditional cash tipping or direct staff tips, citing appropriate wages and cost-of-living concerns.
China has enabled cross-border QR code payments with Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, allowing users to pay in their home currencies. Alipay and QRIS now work across borders, with Chinese visitors able to use digital wallets in Thailand since late October and UnionPay/Alipay in Vietnam since December. Natixis analysts say the move advances dedollarisation, promotes yuan internationalisation and strengthens ASEAN economic ties.
BRICS foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in New Delhi from May 14-15 ahead of the bloc's summit on September 10-11. Payment connectivity and trade settlements are expected to be among the issues on the agenda. An expert said a decentralized financial payments system within BRICS could provide immunity against Western economic leverage and dollar volatility.
The Reserve Bank of India has extended its E-mandate rules to cover cross-border recurring electronic payments via cards, prepaid instruments, and UPI. The new regulations set a Rs 15,000 per-transaction limit and Rs 1 lakh cap for credit card, insurance, and mutual fund payments without additional authentication. Financial institutions must provide 24-hour pre-transaction notifications and customer opt-out facilities validated through additional factor authentication.
