Infcurion Announces Results of "Payment Trends 2026 Survey"

Infcurion Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hiroki Maruyama) conducted the "Payment Trends 2026 Survey" targeting 20,000 men and women aged 16 to 69 nationwide (*1). The survey revealed that while the usage rate of code payments decreased for the first time since it was included in the survey in 2019, contactless payments became the most common method for credit card usage, indicating that the penetration of cashless payments has entered a new phase.

Infcurion has been conducting the "Payment Trends Survey" periodically since 2015 to understand changes in domestic payment trends and consumer behavioral shifts.

*1 Percentages in the survey results may not add up to 100% due to rounding to the first decimal place. In questions allowing multiple answers, the total may exceed 100%.

<Summary of the "Payment Trends 2026 Survey">

The usage rate of code payments (*2) was 71%, marking the first decrease since it was included in the survey in 2019. Meanwhile, the usage rate of brand debit cards (*3) continues to trend upward, particularly among younger demographics, at 30%.

Furthermore, nearly 40% of respondents answered that "cash usage has decreased compared to a year ago," revealing that cashless adoption is rapidly progressing in face-to-face industries, including taxis. Among the "cashless-positive segment" (64% of all respondents) who "prefer to use cashless payments as much as possible," more than half tend to "avoid shopping at stores where cashless payments cannot be used," suggesting that the availability of cashless options can influence consumer behavior.

Additionally, contactless payments have become the top credit card usage method (39%), contributing to increased credit card usage.

*2 Refers to payment methods that involve reading a barcode or QR code with a user's smartphone or payment terminal. *3 There are two types of debit cards: "J-Debit," which uses a cash card as a debit card, and "brand debit," which uses the network of credit card companies. This survey only covers "brand debit" cards.

Code Payment Usage Rate Decreases for the First Time, While Brand Debit Continues Upward Trend

In response to a question about payment methods used, the usage rate of code payments was 71%, showing a decrease for the first time since it was included in the survey in 2019 (down 1 point year-on-year). Furthermore, looking at individual payment services, cases where the usage rate decreased for the first time were observed.

On the other hand, the usage rate of brand debit cards was 30% (up 1 point year-on-year), maintaining a continuous upward trend. Brand debit card usage is most prevalent among younger demographics, with the usage rate for those aged 20-29 being 42%, the highest across all age groups.

Nearly 40% of Consumers Feel a Decrease in Cash Usage; Cashless Adoption Progressing in Face-to-Face Industries Like Taxis

Regarding changes in cash usage, nearly 40% of respondents (n=824) reported a decrease in cash usage opportunities ("decreased significantly" 11%, "decreased" 26%, totaling 37%), indicating a move away from cash is progressing from the consumers' perspective.

Looking at changes in primary payment methods over the past two years (2024-2026) across 15 face-to-face industries, "taxis" showed a significant decrease in cash usage (down 23 points compared to previous surveys), with credit cards (up 11 points) and code payments (up 11 points) showing substantial growth instead. Cash usage has also decreased in industries such as "izakayas and bars" and "hospitals and clinics."

"Cashless-Positive Segment" Accounts for 64%; Over Half Tend to Avoid Stores Not Supporting Cashless Payments

The "cashless-positive segment," who prefer to "use cashless payments as much as possible in daily life," accounted for 64% of the total.

In a detailed survey, when asked if they "avoid or switch to other stores due to the unavailability of cashless payment options at restaurants and retail stores," 59% responded affirmatively ("always consciously avoid" 10%, "try to avoid" 19%, "sometimes avoid" 30%). This indicates that over half of consumers take action to avoid stores that do not support cashless payments. The availability of cashless options appears to influence consumers' store choices.

Contactless Payments Become Most Common Credit Card Usage Method, Boosting Usage

When credit card users (n=719) were asked about their credit card usage methods at store checkouts in the past six months, "tapping the card for contactless payment" accounted for 39%, surpassing "inserting the card into the terminal for payment" (33%) as the most common method.

Furthermore, among those who reported increased credit card usage compared to a year ago (n=187), nearly 70% cited "contactless payments as influencing the increase." Additionally, when asked "If you had to choose only one payment method, which would you choose?" among those who use both credit cards and code payments (n=498), "contactless payment via smartphone" (34%) ranked first.

<Insights Derived from the "Payment Trends 2026 Survey">

Japan's cashless adoption is steadily progressing, with the cashless payment ratio projected to reach 58.0% in 2025 (domestic indicator) (*4). While the emergence and rapid expansion of code payment apps have been a recent trend, the "Payment Trends 2026 Survey" suggests that the phase of expanding code payment app usage has reached a turning point. The usage rate of code payment apps, which had continuously set new records annually from the "2019 Survey" to the "2025 Survey," recorded its first year-on-year decrease in the "2026 Survey."

The first year-on-year decrease in code payment usage suggests that the number of people newly starting to use code payments has declined compared to before. On the other hand, among existing users, code payments were also the payment method with the largest proportion of respondents reporting increased usage compared to a year ago. Usage among existing users is expected to continue growing, and code payments, which have contributed to cashless adoption, are anticipated to maintain their presence.

In contrast, contactless payments via credit cards (*5) have rapidly gained prominence. 52% of credit card users reported that "contactless payments (card or smartphone app) were most frequent in the past six months," indicating their widespread establishment as a daily payment experience. Furthermore, the survey confirmed that contactless payments are contributing to increased credit card usage.

However, the payment experience at stores is only a small part of the consumer's purchasing experience. Code payments, which have already been integrated into many apps, have taken the lead in building customer touchpoints linked with in-store promotion functions such as store search, loyalty card, and coupon features, thereby realizing a better purchasing experience. How contactless payments and code payments, each with distinct strengths, will evolve the purchasing experience is one of the key points to watch going forward.

Consumer payment behavior is constantly changing, but the broader trend of cashless adoption remains unchanged. With 64% of the population being "cashless-positive," and society as a whole moving towards cashless transactions, stores that do not support cashless payments risk losing opportunities. For store operators, adopting cashless payments not only involves costs such as transaction fees but also offers benefits like reduced cash management burdens. Consideration of these dual aspects will become increasingly important.

In summary, the results of the "Payment Trends 2026 Survey" indicate that Japan's cashless payment market is shifting from a quantitative stage of determining the penetration of each method to a qualitative stage where consumers select methods based on the situation. This "quantity to quality" shift will be the next focus, shaping future consumer behavior and purchasing experiences.

*4 Source: "Calculated the Cashless Payment Ratio for 2025" (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) https://www.meti.go.jp/press/2025/03/20260331006/20260331006.html *5 Contactless payment support is also expanding for brand debit cards.

<Survey Overview>

Survey Method: Internet Survey

Survey Region: Japan

Overall Survey Target: 20,000 men and women aged 16-69

Detailed Survey Target: 103 individuals randomly selected from each of 8 categories, based on a combination of employment status, household income, and livelihood status (dependent/independent) (8 categories x 103 people = 824 people)

Survey Period: April 3-6, 2026

Survey Organizer: Infcurion Inc.

About Infcurion

Infcurion is a "Fintech partner for all industries and services" that implements optimal payment and financial functions for society. We develop technologies and provide platforms that allow flexible use of various financial services on a functional basis, and offer consulting for cashless payment businesses. Leveraging our expertise cultivated through many years of consulting experience and our modern, flexible next-generation payment system, we provide an "end-to-end payment platform" that covers all payment scenarios, from B2C cashless payments to B2B inter-company payments.

We comprehensively support our clients' business strategies, from planning Fintech strategies to creating new financial services. By supporting the businesses of leading companies through payments and finance, we aim to solve societal issues and realize rich customer experiences.

Company Name: Infcurion Inc.

Established: May 1, 2006

Representative: President and CEO Hiroki Maruyama

Headquarters: MFPR Kojimachi Bldg. 7F, 5-7-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Affiliated Organizations: Fintech Association

Cashless Promotion Council

Japan Association of Payment Service Providers

Invoice Card Payment Association

URL: https://infcurion.com/

*This press release is based on information available as of the date of issue. The content may be subject to change in whole or in part in the future.

*Company names, product names, and service names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

*QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.

*When quoting the results of this survey, please cite "Infcurion 'Payment Trends 2026 Survey'."

*This press release contains forward-looking statements and opinions. While based on information and data that we believe to be reliable, their realization is not guaranteed, and actual results may differ.