Will a digital-only currency exceed 10 percent of global payments by 2030?

The Rise of Digital-Only Currencies

The world grows increasingly cashless, wallets turning into apps and coins dissolving into data. Central banks pilot digital currencies, fintech giants reshape consumer behavior, and blockchain experiments push innovation into the mainstream.

But surpassing 10% of global payments demands extraordinary trust, security, interoperability, and regulatory approval. Many regions still rely heavily on cash, and privacy debates swirl around every digital initiative.

My prediction: a digital-only currency—likely a government-backed one—will cross the 10% threshold by 2030, but only after years of cautious rollout.

The shift will feel gradual until suddenly it feels inevitable.