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WorldPlay has announced that 50% of UK e-commerce transactions could be made using digital wallets by 2030, up from 40% in 2025, in its 11th annual Global Payments Report.
In the same time period, the payment processing company forecasted digital wallet spending to rise by 68% from £269bn to £453bn.
Although younger consumers were the main drivers of digital wallet use, this method was the most popular form of online payment for every age group below 45.
Two-thirds (66%) of 18–24-year-olds identify digital wallets as their first choice, while close to one-third (29%) of consumers aged 55-64 and almost a quarter (23%) of those aged 65+ say the same.
WorldPlay said these figures reflected a cross-generational shift in trust and comfort with the payment method.
The company has predicted that direct card spend will fall 11% online and 8% in bricks and mortar stores in the next four years.
Nonetheless, physical cards still made up 46% of online and 69% of point of sale (POS) spending in 2025, and many British digital wallets are powered by existing physical debit and credit cards.
WorldPlay said this suggests physical cards are experiencing their own digital transition rather than total eradication, and that payment innovation depends on its closeness to familiar behaviour.
Cash use is expected to decline only slightly, accounting for 7% of POS transaction value by 2030, compared with 9% in 2025.
Despite this, cash is projected to remain relevant for the remainder of the decade, especially for cheaper payments and people who see it as accessible and simple.
Meanwhile, ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) plans are becoming more common and are forecasted to comprise 9% of ecommerce transaction value in 2030 at £33.4bn, up 1% from 8% in 2025.
WorldPlay said the figures suggest BNPL is carving out a role within the wider mix of consumer payment options.
Pete Wickes, general manager of Enterprise EMEA, at Global Payments, said: “We’re not seeing a sudden shift away from cards, but a steady evolution in how people choose to pay. Digital wallets are growing quickly because, in the UK, they build on familiar card infrastructure while offering greater convenience and security.
“As the payments landscape evolves, businesses need a clear view of how customers want to pay. Expectations are moving toward convenience and choice, and merchants who adapt their payment systems to serve every customer will be best positioned to capture the opportunities ahead.”
