Proximity Payment Market

Proximity Payment Market Size by Payment Mode (Near Field Communication (NFC)-Based Payments and QR Code-Based Payments), Offering Type (Hardware and Software), End-User Industry (Retail & E-commerce, Transportation, Hospitality & Entertainment, Healthcare and Others), Regions, Global Industry Analysis, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2025 to 2034

Base Year: 2024 Historical Data: 2021-23
  • Report ID: TBI-14685
  • Published Date: Mar, 2025
  • Pages: 238
  • Category: Information Technology & Semiconductors
  • Format: PDF
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Market Introduction

The global proximity payment market was valued at USD 15.54 billion in 2024 and grew at a CAGR of 12.32% from 2025 to 2034. The market is expected to reach USD 49.66 billion by 2034. The growing adoption of mobile payments will drive the growth of the global proximity payment market.

Contactless transactions, referred to as proximity payments, work through tapping or incrementally moving a payment device such as a smartphone, smartwatch or payment cards, which activate a compatible point-of-sale (POS) terminal for transactions. Payment transmissions between payment devices and merchant terminals utilize NFC and RFID technologies for secure transaction data exchange. Speed and convenience are the main benefits that proximity payments offer users. Contactless payments finish in seconds due to their quick process, making them optimal for quick service areas such as supermarkets, public transport and cafes. The system's security increases because tokenization transforms readable card details into solitary digital identifiers for each transaction, lowering fraud potential. Proximity payments have gained rapid adoption as smartphones become prevalent. Furthermore, customers started preferring digital transactions over cash payments after COVID-19 payments. The evolution of global payments depends heavily on proximity payment methods that provide seamless digital transactions. Adopting cashless systems between customers and businesses will lead to proximity payments to define the way financial transactions function in the future.

Proximity Payment Market Size

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Recent Development

  • The Central Bank of Brazil launched Pix by Proximity, which is accessible to users of Google's digital wallets. The statement claims that this contactless payment method will enable users to use bank accounts connected to Google Wallet to make payments by only putting their phones next to a payment terminal, which resembles a card machine. Any payment acquirer in the market can use this solution, which was created in collaboration with Rede Itaú and tested on their terminals. The user needs to unlock their phone, bring it close to the recipient's NFC-enabled terminal, and then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the payment.

Market Dynamics

Drivers

The growing adoption of mobile payments – Contactless and mobile payment adoption is the primary propeller for the proximity payments market because consumers now value swift and hassle-free financial transactions. Contactless payments deliver comfort and convenience to consumers through seamless transactions, which benefit busy commerce centres like transportation and fast-food outlets. Digital wallets provided by Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay have gained immense popularity because users want protected payment methods which operate smoothly. The digital wallet operation that works with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology lets users finish their transactions in seconds through a smartphone or smartwatch contact with NFC-ready point-of-sale terminals. Rising consumer demand has led financial institutions to provide their customers with more contactless-enabled credit and debit cards. The acceptance of proximity payment solutions steadily increases because of rising smartphone adoption and advanced internet connectivity. Mobile payment solutions have reached an all-time high level of accessibility because smartphones are now used by billions of people globally. The transformation of payment systems strongly depends on mobile-first economies in Asia and Africa, where digital payment systems are expanding at a rapid pace.

Restraints

Lack of trust and security concerns – Security issues and rising instances of cyber/digital frauds act as major obstacles to implementing proximity payments on a large scale, even though encryption and tokenization provide enhanced protection. The main security issue involving proximity payments arises from unapproved transactions with contactless transactions requiring no PIN codes for low-cost transactions. Unlawful individuals can continue making fraudulent transactions from stolen contactless cards. Security risks from mobile payment apps arise from both phishing scams targeting payment apps and malware attacks aimed at these applications. The wireless exchange of sensitive payment data in proximity payments leads to privacy concerns since data breaches could be possible. The fear of data security breakdown and cybercrime prevents consumers from embracing digital payments more widely, especially in regions with low digital trust.

Opportunities

Favourable government legislation – various national authorities and central banks actively promote digital payments to improve financial accessibility, reduce cash usage, and improve transaction clarity. Regulatory bodies across Europe and Asia have led a comprehensive roll-out of NFC payment systems because they target applications in both public transit and retail businesses. Emerging market governments support digital financial services because they aim to enhance economic development alongside formalizing unregulated sectors of the economy. The adoption of proximity payment solutions increases through tax incentives for digital transactions, business subsidies for contactless payment adoption, and inter-system frameworks between banking and fintech systems. Banks and fintech organizations utilize growth strategies to capture increased market segments in the expanding contactless payment systems. The banking industry speeds up its payment framework modernization by supporting NFC functionality in debit and credit card programs and developing partnerships for integrating digital payment wallets within banking services. Aggressive marketing efforts, cashback incentives, and loyalty programs drive consumer adoption, while cooperative agreements between banks, telecom providers and merchants improve accessibility. The rising market competition drives all players to develop better, secure, and efficient user-friendly payment solutions for proximity payments.

Segment Analysis

Regional segmentation analysis

The regions analyzed for the market include North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. North America emerged as the most significant global proximity payment market, with a 36% market revenue share in 2024.

The proximity payment market leads in North America because the region maintains a strong technological digital infrastructure, high smartphone adoption, and several financial institutions. NFC technology dominance in North America gets additional support from Apple, Google, and Samsung because these global tech corporations have integrated NFC functionality into their mobile payment platforms, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. These payment solutions operate throughout the region; thus, consumers now heavily depend on proximity payment methods. Banks and fintech companies drive contactless debit and credit payments through promotional programs that give users cashback benefits for enhanced adoption. Real-time non-contact payments experienced rapid growth in the North American markets as businesses and consumers worked to achieve hygienic and convenient payment processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adoption of NFC-based payments has strengthened because major cities like New York, Toronto, and San Francisco now accept these systems in their public transportation networks. The digital payment infrastructure, regulatory support, and high consumer use of contactless solutions in North America keep the region dominant in the global market.

North America Region Proximity Payment Market Share in 2024 - 36%

 

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Payment Mode Segment Analysis

The payment mode segment is divided into Near Field Communication (NFC)-Based Payments and QR Code-Based Payments. The Near Field Communication (NFC)-Based Payments segment dominated the market, with a market share of around 60% in 2024. The proximity payments market focuses on Near Field Communication (NFC)-based payments because they provide users with quick, secure and seamless transactions. An NFC payment process provides users with instant transactions. They can complete payment by placing their smartphone smartwatch or contactless card against an NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminal within seconds. This method differs from QR code-based payments that need manual payment amount entry or scanning processes. The widespread use of NFC payments results from extensive backing by key digital wallet providers such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, who have included NFC technology in their mobile solutions. The leadership position of NFC results from its focus on security measures. NFC payments achieve superior security compared to QR codes because they combine tokenization together with encryption and finger or face recognition biometric authentication to prevent malicious schemes.

  • Itaú Unibanco and Rede have declared their intention to launch a new Pix payment option based on proximity. This upgrade will remove the requirement to use a bank app by enabling NFC payments through Rede's terminals. Customers will only need to hold their smartphones close to Rede's terminals to make Pix transactions. This new technique will lower The transaction time from 36 seconds to roughly 6 seconds.   They emphasized that this approach offers a quick and safe transaction experience and an extra degree of security via authentication.

Offering type Segment Analysis

The offering type segment is divided into hardware and software. The hardware segment dominated the market, with a market share of around 54% in 2024. The market leadership of hardware materials exists because contactless transactions need hardware infrastructure to create smooth connections between consumers and merchants. The execution of proximity payments depends on NFC-enabled equipment such as POS terminals, smartphones, smartwatches and contactless cards, establishing hardware as the core component in this payment system. Digital wallets and payment software rely on physical devices as their supporting infrastructure. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure adoption within retail hospitality and transport sectors makes hardware the leading component in the NFC payment system. Plenty of service providers and retailers choose to invest in systems that enable contactless payments to deliver faster transactions and simplified customer experiences. The surge of devices combining mobile electronics with integrated NFC chips is a central growth factor for hardware dominance in payment systems.

End-user industry Segment Analysis

The end user industry segment is divided into retail & e-commerce, transportation, hospitality & entertainment, healthcare and others. The retail and e-commerce segment dominated the market, with a market share of around 38% in 2024. Physical retail stores depend on NFC-enabled point-of-sale (POS) terminals at checkout points because they offer quick and secure transactions which replace traditional methods such as cash and credit or debit card swiping. The quick-service industry, supermarkets, department stores, and convenience shops choose proximity payments to cut down wait times because these transactions improve customer satisfaction. Retail operators accept digital payment wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, to connect loyalty programs with individualized promotions, thereby attracting new customers to the payment system. E-commerce receives its main revenue from online credit card and digital wallet transactions but implements proximity payments as a supplementary avenue. Retailers introduced click-and-collect models, enabling customers to buy products online and finish payments using contactless methods when collecting their orders in stores. Proximity payments continue to expand through self-checkout kiosks, vending machines, and unmanned retail stores, which enhances their consecutive rise in the retail market. The rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic made contactless payments become the norm in retail because retailers and customers focused on maintaining hygiene and safety practices. Governments and financial institutions accelerated contactless payments by heightening payment caps and expanding NFC functionality, reinforcing retail sector dominance in proximity payments. 

Some of the Key Market Players

  • Alipay
  • American Express Company 
  • Apple Inc. 
  • Fiserv, Inc. 
  • Google LLC 
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
  • Mastercard Incorporated 
  • PayPal Holdings, Inc. 
  • Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 
  • Square, Inc. 
  • Visa Inc. 
  • WeChat Pay (Tencent Holdings Ltd.) 

Report Description

Attribute Description
Market Size Revenue (USD Billion)
Market size value in 2024 USD 15.54 Billion
Market size value in 2034 USD 49.66 Billion
CAGR (2025 to 2034) 12.32%
Historical data 2021-2023
Base Year 2024
Forecast 2025-2034
Region The regions analyzed for the market are Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, North America, and Middle East and Africa. Furthermore, the regions are further analyzed at the country level.
Segments Payment Mode, Offering Type and End User Industry

Frequesntly Asked Questions

As per The Brainy Insights, the size of the global proximity payment market was valued at USD 15.54 billion in 2024 to USD 49.66 billion by 2034.

Global proximity payment market is growing at a CAGR of 12.32% during the forecast period 2025-2034.

The market's growth will be influenced by the growing adoption of mobile payments.

Lack of trust and security concerns could hamper the market growth.

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+1

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2021 to 2034. The Brainy Insights has segmented the global proximity payment market based on below mentioned segments:

Global Proximity Payment Market by Payment Mode:

  • Near Field Communication (NFC)-Based Payments
  • QR Code-Based Payments

Global Proximity Payment Market by Offering Type:

  • Hardware
  • Software

Global Proximity Payment Market by End User Industry:

  • Retail & E-commerce
  • Transportation
  • Hospitality & Entertainment
  • Healthcare
  • Others

Global Proximity Payment Market by Region:

  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • France
    • U.K.
    • Italy
    • Spain
  • Asia-Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
  • South America
    • Brazil
  • Middle East and Africa  
    • UAE
    • South Africa

Methodology

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Our research reports feature both; quantitative and qualitative aspects for any market. Qualitative information for any market research process are fundamental because they reveal the customer needs and wants, usage and consumption for any product/service related to a specific industry. This in turn aids the marketers/investors in knowing certain perceptions of the customers. Qualitative research can enlighten about the different product concepts and designs along with unique service offering that in turn, helps define marketing problems and generate opportunities. On the other hand, quantitative research engages with the data collection process through interviews, e-mail interactions, surveys and pilot studies. Quantitative aspects for the market research are useful to validate the hypotheses generated during qualitative research method, explore empirical patterns in the data with the help of statistical tools, and finally make the market estimations.

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Our research methodology encompasses an idyllic combination of primary and secondary initiatives. Key phases involved in this process are listed below:

MARKET RESEARCH PROCESS

Data Procurement:

The phase involves the gathering and collecting of market data and its related information with the help of different sources & research procedures.

The data procurement stage involves in data gathering and collecting through various data sources.

This stage involves in extensive research. These data sources includes:

Purchased Database: Purchased databases play a crucial role in estimating the market sizes irrespective of the domain. Our purchased database includes:

  • The organizational databases such as D&B Hoovers, and Bloomberg that helps us to identify the competitive scenario of the key market players/organizations along with the financial information.
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Primary Research: The Brainy Insights interacts with leading companies and experts of the concerned domain to develop the analyst team’s market understanding and expertise. It improves and substantiates every single data presented in the market reports. Primary research mainly involves in telephonic interviews, E-mail interactions and face-to-face interviews with the raw material providers, manufacturers/producers, distributors, & independent consultants. The interviews that we conduct provides valuable data on market size and industry growth trends prevailing in the market. Our organization also conducts surveys with the various industry experts in order to gain overall insights of the industry/market. For instance, in healthcare industry we conduct surveys with the pharmacists, doctors, surgeons and nurses in order to gain insights and key information of a medical product/device/equipment which the customers are going to usage. Surveys are conducted in the form of questionnaire designed by our own analyst team. Surveys plays an important role in primary research because surveys helps us to identify the key target audiences of the market. Additionally, surveys helps to identify the key target audience engaged with the market. Our survey team conducts the survey by targeting the key audience, thus gaining insights from them. Based on the perspectives of the customers, this information is utilized to formulate market strategies. Moreover, market surveys helps us to understand the current competitive situation of the industry. To be precise, our survey process typically involve with the 360 analysis of the market. This analytical process begins by identifying the prospective customers for a product or service related to the market/industry to obtain data on how a product/service could fit into customers’ lives.

Secondary Research: The secondary data sources includes information published by the on-profit organizations such as World bank, WHO, company fillings, investor presentations, annual reports, national government documents, statistical databases, blogs, articles, white papers and others. From the annual report, we analyse a company’s revenue to understand the key segment and market share of that organization in a particular region. We analyse the company websites and adopt the product mapping technique which is important for deriving the segment revenue. In the product mapping method, we select and categorize the products offered by the companies catering to domain specific market, deduce the product revenue for each of the companies so as to get overall estimation of the market size. We also source data and analyses trends based on information received from supply side and demand side intermediaries in the value chain. The supply side denotes the data gathered from supplier, distributor, wholesaler and the demand side illustrates the data gathered from the end customers for respective market domain.

The supply side for a domain specific market is analysed by:

  • Estimating and projecting penetration rates through analysing product attributes, availability of internal and external substitutes, followed by pricing analysis of the product.
  • Experiential assessment of year-on-year sales of the product by conducting interviews.

The demand side for the market is estimated through:

  • Evaluating the penetration level and usage rates of the product.
  • Referring to the historical data to determine the growth rate and evaluate the industry trends

In-house Library: Apart from these third-party sources, we have our in-house library of qualitative and quantitative information. Our in-house database includes market data for various industry and domains. These data are updated on regular basis as per the changing market scenario. Our library includes, historic databases, internal audit reports and archives.

Sometimes there are instances where there is no metadata or raw data available for any domain specific market. For those cases, we use our expertise to forecast and estimate the market size in order to generate comprehensive data sets. Our analyst team adopt a robust research technique in order to produce the estimates:

  • Applying demographic along with psychographic segmentation for market evaluation
  • Determining the Micro and Macro-economic indicators for each region 
  • Examining the industry indicators prevailing in the market. 

Data Synthesis: This stage involves the analysis & mapping of all the information obtained from the previous step. It also involves in scrutinizing the data for any discrepancy observed while data gathering related to the market. The data is collected with consideration to the heterogeneity of sources. Robust scientific techniques are in place for synthesizing disparate data sets and provide the essential contextual information that can orient market strategies. The Brainy Insights has extensive experience in data synthesis where the data passes through various stages:

  • Data Screening: Data screening is the process of scrutinising data/information collected from primary research for errors and amending those collected data before data integration method. The screening involves in examining raw data, identifying errors and dealing with missing data. The purpose of the data screening is to ensure data is correctly entered or not. The Brainy Insights employs objective and systematic data screening grades involving repeated cycles of quality checks, screening and suspect analysis.
  • Data Integration: Integrating multiple data streams is necessary to produce research studies that provide in-depth picture to the clients. These data streams come from multiple research studies and our in house database. After screening of the data, our analysts conduct creative integration of data sets, optimizing connections between integrated surveys and syndicated data sources. There are mainly 2 research approaches that we follow in order to integrate our data; top down approach and bottom up approach.

Market Deduction & Formulation: The final stage comprises of assigning data points at appropriate market spaces so as to deduce feasible conclusions. Analyst perspective & subject matter expert based holistic form of market sizing coupled with industry analysis also plays a crucial role in this stage.

This stage involves in finalization of the market size and numbers that we have collected from data integration step. With data interpolation, it is made sure that there is no gap in the market data. Successful trend analysis is done by our analysts using extrapolation techniques, which provide the best possible forecasts for the market.

Data Validation & Market Feedback: Validation is the most important step in the process. Validation & re-validation via an intricately designed process helps us finalize data-points to be used for final calculations.

The Brainy Insights interacts with leading companies and experts of the concerned domain to develop the analyst team’s market understanding and expertise. It improves and substantiates every single data presented in the market reports. The data validation interview and discussion panels are typically composed of the most experienced industry members. The participants include, however, are not limited to:

  • CXOs and VPs of leading companies’ specific to sector
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  • Key opinion leaders such as investment bankers, and industry consultants

Moreover, we always validate our data and findings through primary respondents from all the major regions we are working on.

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