Asia-Pacific is a payments powerhouse—driven by digital walletsDigital Wallets digital-wallets Applications or platforms (like Apple Pay, Google Pay) that store payment card data securely and allow users to pay digitally., real-time infrastructure, and central bank innovation. But the region is incredibly diverse: from QR-led financial inclusion in Southeast Asia to card-centric, aging economies like Japan.
In this post, we unpack how consumers and businesses are paying across 7 key APAC countries in 2025: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, and South Korea.
🔹 Common Themes Across APAC
- QR Code Dominance: Ubiquitous in SE Asia, with national QR standards rolled out (PromptPay, DuitNow, QRIS)
- Real-Time Infrastructure: Nearly every market has an instant payment system (e.g., FAST, InstaPay, BI-FAST)
- Digital Wallet Boom: GrabPay, GCash, DANA, KakaoPay, PayPay – walletsWallets wallets See Digital Wallets. dominate the digital space
- Central Bank Innovation: Cross-border instant payment corridors (e.g., Singapore–Thailand, Malaysia–Indonesia)
- Cash Decline: Fastest in Singapore and South Korea; slowest in Philippines and Indonesia
📊 Country-wise Table: APAC Payment Methods & Market Share (2025)
| Country | Top Payment Methods | Market Share / Usage Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | FAST, PayNow, Cards, GrabPay, Apple Pay | 🔹 A2A (FAST/PayNow): ~45% |
| 🔹 Cards: ~30% | ||
| 🔹 Wallets: ~20% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: <5% | ||
| Malaysia | DuitNow, FPX, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Cards | 🔹 DuitNow (QR/A2A): ~40% |
| 🔹 Cards: ~30% | ||
| 🔹 Wallets: ~25% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: ~5% | ||
| Thailand | PromptPay, Cards, TrueMoney Wallet, Mobile Banking | 🔹 PromptPay (A2A/QR): ~55% |
| 🔹 Cards: ~25% | ||
| 🔹 Wallets: ~15% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: ~5% | ||
| Indonesia | QRIS, BI-FAST, GoPay, OVO, DANA, Cards | 🔹 QRIS (QR/A2A): ~50% |
| 🔹 Wallets: ~30% | ||
| 🔹 Cards: ~10% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: ~10% | ||
| Philippines | InstaPay, GCash, Maya, Cards, Cash | 🔹 GCash/Maya: ~50% |
| 🔹 Bank Transfers: ~20% | ||
| 🔹 Cards: ~10% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: ~20% | ||
| Japan | Credit Cards, Konbini Payments, PayPay, Cash | 🔹 Cards: ~55% |
| 🔹 Wallets (PayPay, Rakuten): ~20% | ||
| 🔹 Konbini/Cash: ~25% | ||
| 🔹 Bank Transfers: Limited use | ||
| South Korea | KakaoPay, Toss, Credit Cards, Bank Transfers, Samsung Pay | 🔹 Wallets (KakaoPay, Toss, Samsung Pay): ~50% |
| 🔹 Cards: ~35% | ||
| 🔹 Bank Transfers: ~10% | ||
| 🔹 Cash: <5% |
🇸🇬 Singapore: Seamless and Real-Time
- FAST + PayNow enables instant A2A transfers via mobile, NRIC, or UEN
- Ubiquitous wallet adoption (GrabPay, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Strong credit card rewards culture remains
🇲🇾 Malaysia: QR-First Nation
- DuitNow (A2A + QR standard) covers banks, fintechs, wallets
- Touch ‘n Go wallet dominates at POS and toll booths
- Real-time payments integrated into lifestyle and bill payments
🇹🇭 Thailand: Prompt and Powerful
- PromptPay QR and alias-based A2A payments are dominant
- Real-time transactionsTransactions transactions Interactions where value is exchanged for goods or services. include P2P, salary, utility payments
- Strong mobile banking culture; cards and wallets secondary
🇮🇩 Indonesia: Wallet Wars and QR Revolution
- QRIS: Centralized QR code standard adopted by over 22M merchants
- Wallets like GoPay, OVO, DANA dominate mobile payments
- BI-FAST enabling real-time bank transfers across providers
🇵🇭 Philippines: Wallet-Led Financial Inclusion
- GCash and Maya drive most digital transactions
- InstaPay and PESONet power real-time and batch transfers
- Cards still limited; cash remains important in rural areas
🇯🇵 Japan: Slow Shift from Cash to Digital
- Still a card-heavy and cash-loving economy
- Konbini (convenience store) payments are common for bills
- PayPay, Rakuten Pay making inroads, but QR is not dominant
🇰🇷 South Korea: Super App and Wallet Leader
- KakaoPay and Toss dominate everything from P2P to insurance
- Samsung Pay leverages NFC + MST for wide acceptance
- Cards still strong, but cash nearly obsolete
🔮 What’s Next in APAC Payments?
- Cross-border RTP corridors expanding (SG–TH, MY–ID, TH–VN, etc.)
- CBDC pilots across Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan
- QR interoperability for regional e-commerce
- More open banking and API regulation across ASEAN+3
- Super apps as payment hubs (Kakao, Grab, GCash, Maya)
🔚 Summary
Asia-Pacific’s payment scene is marked by:
- Hyper-digitization in wallets and QR
- Massive adoption of real-time A2A payments
- Regional divergence: Japan’s card loyalty vs. Indonesia’s mobile-first revolution
- Regulators as innovators: Real-time systems built or backed by central banks
It’s the most vibrant and diverse region globally—and fintechFintech fintech Short for financial technology, refers to tech-enabled innovation in financial services. builders and researchers would be wise to watch what’s happening across these 7 nations.