From Strides in Stablecoins to AI Shopping: Top Payments Trends for 2026

Visa Spotlights returns with a deep dive into the fast‑evolving world of payments as we enter 2026. In this episode, host Dan Baxter, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (CEMEA), sits down with Tareq Muhmood, Visa’s Regional President for CEMEA, to unpack the forces reshaping how people pay, shop, and interact with money across one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

Together, they explore the state of the digital economy across CEMEA, the rapid acceleration of cash displacement, the rise of tokenization, and a fast‑maturing financial ecosystem. Looking ahead, Tareq breaks down six major trends defining 2026—from stablecoins moving into real‑world utility, to AI‑driven agentic commerce, to hyper‑personalized financial experiences built on trust and agility.

You will hear how Visa is:
• Expanding stablecoin settlement and enabling 7‑day‑a‑week cross‑border movement
• Building the trust framework for agentic commerce and next‑gen AI‑protected payments
• Fighting evolving fraud threats through biometrics, Visa Protect AI models, and Passkeys
• Powering the era beyond OTPs, manual guest checkout, and friction-heavy online purchases
• Accelerating financial inclusion through local partnerships across Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia
• Helping banks and merchants unlock “Segment of One” personalization with modular, data-rich systems

A forward-looking, insight-packed conversation for anyone interested in the future of payments — and how innovation, trust, and inclusion will shape the next wave of digital commerce in 2026 and beyond.

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