APAC Crypto Growth Fuels $2.4T Payments Shift

Global payments are undergoing rapid transformation as agentic AI, stablecoins and real‑time account‑to‑account rails reshape cross‑border and corporate flows. Boston Consulting Group forecasts payments revenue will reach $2.4 trillion by 2029 and expects agentic AI to influence more than $1 trillion in e‑commerce and real‑time payments. Asia‑Pacific has emerged as a leader in crypto adoption: on‑chain monthly transaction value rose from about $81 billion in mid‑2022 to $244 billion in December 2024 and remained above $185 billion through mid‑2025, with India leading 2025 activity at roughly $338 billion and Japan recording the fastest year‑over‑year growth (~120%). Major tech and payments firms are building for that future — including Google’s Agent Payments Protocol and programs from card networks and gateways that aim to support cards, bank transfers and stablecoins via cryptographically signed mandates. Regional initiatives, industry forums (including HSBC’s work on real‑time payments) and new stablecoin gateways are accelerating infrastructure rollout, even as trust, regulation and interoperability remain key hurdles for mainstream adoption.