Artificial intelligence and blockchain are poised to be two of the most transformative forces in the global economy over the next five years, unlocking major opportunities for companies’ digital transformation especially in payments. From frictionless transactions executed by AI agents to always-on treasury functions, the way businesses move money, information, and assets around the world will continue to evolve. 

In the inaugural Payments Outlook report, J.P. Morgan Payments outlines five key trends shaping the payments landscape in 2026 and beyond, featuring insights from 10 J.P. Morgan experts.

1. Liquidity is becoming real-time and borderless
   Organizations are moving toward real-time, always-on liquidity models to improve visibility and control across global operations. While 87% of organizations have implemented some level of treasury automation, only 39% describe their systems as fully automated¹, highlighting room to modernize.
2. Fraud is scaling with speed and sophistication
   As transactions become instant, fraud risks are intensifying. The global cost of cybercrime reached an estimated $10.5 trillion in 2025,² with deepfakes now accounting for 40% of biometric fraud³, and 79% of U.S. businesses were hit by payments fraud in 2024⁴. This is driving a need for stronger authentication and continuous monitoring.
3. Personalized shopped experiences in the advent of agentic commerce
   Demand is growing for more personalized and frictionless experiences as consumers shop across channels, accelerating the growth of omnichannel commerce and AI-driven shopping. For businesses, this means supporting real-time payments, flexible options like BNPL, and embedding payments directly into platforms to simplify checkout and strengthen loyalty.
4. Treasury is becoming always-on, data-driven and AI-enhanced
   Modern treasury is shifting to cloud-based, API-driven systems that enable real-time insights and automation. Organizations with advanced data capabilities are up to 3x more likely to achieve double-digit revenue growth⁵. While AI agents can propose actions and flag anomalies, humans will continue to have the final say.
5. Blockchain is moving from experimentation to adoption
   Blockchain and tokenization are gaining traction, enabling faster settlement and unlocking liquidity across asset classes. Tokenization alone could represent a $400 billion opportunity for the asset management industry by simplifying the distribution of alternative investments to individuals, such as private equity^6.

Check out the Payments Outlook report here and dig deeper into these trends: 

• Our view on how agentic AI could change the way consumers shop
• How we became the first bank to issue USD deposit tokens on a public blockchain
• A new treasury solution for cutting FX risk and streamlining multicurrency settlements
• A behind-the-scenes look into the world of payments operations and fraud prevention