In 2025, payments are changing fast in places like Asia, Latin America, and Africa. People are deciding between credit cards and cryptocurrencies for their everyday spending. So, what do they actually prefer, and why? Let’s look at what’s happening, what people want, and what’s driving their choices.
Why Credit Cards Are Popular
Credit cards are a go-to for many in emerging markets. More people are getting them as incomes rise and online shopping grows. In Asia, for example, mobile payments are huge—China had 943 million users by mid-2023.
People like credit cards because:
- They Work Everywhere: You can use them at stores, online, or almost anywhere, which makes them super convenient.
- They’re Safe: Fraud protection and the ability to dispute charges give people peace of mind, especially where scams are common.
- Rewards Are Nice: Cashback, travel points, or discounts keep people coming back, especially younger folks like Gen Z and Millennials.
In India, online shopping is expected to grow 17.5% in 2023, and credit cards are popular for their security. But high interest rates (around 20%) and limited access for some people hold cards back.
Cryptocurrencies: The New Option
Crypto, which started with Bitcoin in 2009, is catching on in places where banks aren’t always easy to access. By 2025, about 8–10% of adults worldwide use crypto, including 28% of U.S. adults (65.7 million people). Emerging markets are following this trend.
Here’s why crypto is appealing:
- Helps the Unbanked: People without bank accounts can use crypto to buy things or send money, which is huge in some areas.
- Cheaper Transfers: Sending money across borders costs less with crypto, which matters in places like Nigeria or the Philippines.
- New Tools: Stablecoins and crypto cards (like Crypto.com’s Visa) let people spend digital money like cash, even on platforms like Apple Pay.
Crypto also lets people start businesses through things like Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) or decentralized finance (DeFi). But it’s not perfect—prices can swing wildly, hacks are a risk, and rules around crypto are still unclear. About 36% of crypto users worry about security.
Who Likes What?
Preferences depend a lot on age. Gen Z, who grew up with tech, loves new payment options—54% use contactless payments or mobile apps. They’re way more likely to try crypto or Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) than older folks.
Millennials use both crypto and cards, liking rewards and building credit. Older generations (Gen X and Boomers) stick with cards because they know them and trust them. In emerging markets, where cash is still used for 16% of payments, younger people are pushing for digital options.
Crypto vs Cards: What Matters in 2025
- Ease of Use: Cards are simple and accepted everywhere, but crypto cards are catching up by letting people spend crypto like regular money.
- Safety: Cards have strong fraud protection and things like fingerprint scans. Crypto’s blockchain is transparent, but hacks are still a problem.
- Cost: Crypto has low fees, which is great for sending money abroad. Cards can hit users with high interest.
- Rules: Cards follow clear laws, while crypto rules are still being figured out. New laws, like the EU’s MiCA, might make crypto safer.
The Future: Using Both?
Instead of one beating the other, people are blending crypto and cards. Crypto credit cards, expected to grow from $10.1 billion in 2023 to $27.7 billion by 2031, let you spend crypto and earn rewards, using regular payment systems. Stablecoins, tied to real money, make crypto less risky for daily use, and Visa now supports stablecoin cards at over 100 million stores.
CPAY: Making Payments Simple
Cpay.world is leading the way by offering tools that combine crypto and traditional payments. They make it easy and safe for people in emerging markets to use both, helping everyone stay flexible and included.
Wrapping Up
In emerging markets, people choose between crypto and cards based on what’s easy, safe, and affordable. Cards are still king for their trust and reach, but crypto is growing fast, especially for those without banks. As tools like crypto cards become more common, platforms like Cpay.world are helping people use both to fit their needs.
