Tap to Pay by Account: A new chapter for digital wallets

Alternative payment networks and digital wallets are reshaping the payments landscape worldwide. But as these ecosystems scale, a critical question emerges: how can they expand acceptance and deliver seamless user experiences while preserving their independence? In this exclusive article, IDEMIA Secure Transactions explores how payment rails, EMV technologies, and Tap to Pay by Account can help wallet providers unlock the next phase of growth.

Join our panel session at Open Banking Expo UK & Europe 2026 to dive into our key findings below and discuss what the future of payment will look like.

• New rails are reshaping the payment ecosystem: The payment landscape is quickly evolving with new issuance and acceptance rails – from card networks to instant payments, mobile money, and CBDCs. This shift is pushing alternative players, such as digital wallets, to adapt and prioritize security, speed, and inclusivity.
• Apple’s decision to open NFC is changing the game: The rise of mobile payments and NFC at POS, boosted by Apple’s mid-2024 move to open NFC access in iOS 18 1 across Europe (Host Card Emulation) and key global markets (Secure Element), marks a major shift, enabling third-party wallets to offer seamless Tap to Pay experiences.
• The next move for digital wallets is to extend their reach to physical stores: Digital wallets have already demonstrated their value in peer-to-peer (P2P) and e-commerce environments by enabling seamless one-click experiences. To remain competitive and meet growing consumer demand, digital wallet providers are now extending their capabilities to support one-tap payments at physical points of sale (POS).
• Payment providers turn to sovereign and local solutions: Geopolitical shifts are accelerating the development of local and sovereign payment systems. For these solutions to become viable alternatives to international wallets, they must support in-store NFC payments and cross-border transactions while matching the user experience consumers are familiar with and expect.
• Payment method choices define wallet success at POS: Some digital wallet providers rely on hosting third-party payment methods (eg bank cards) or issuing closed-loop systems limited to remote use. Whether they can expand to in-store acceptance depends on the payment means they offer. To achieve this, they must either invest in building their own acceptance network or leverage card rails widely supported by merchants.
• Tap to Pay by Account makes it possible to combine EMV reach and technological independency: This hybrid approach unlocks a major opportunity – a Tap to Pay by Account model that combines EMV grade security, tokenization, and NFC protocols. It empowers digital wallet providers to stay technology-independent, maintain control over their roadmap, and compete effectively at POS.
• Hybrid EMV-compatible models are accelerating in-store payment enablement: To enable in-store payments via card rails, digital wallet providers can either issue co-branded EMV cards with international schemes or take a more disruptive path by converting account-based assets into EMV-compatible formats accepted at existing POS terminals without requiring any upgrades.

Download our last paper to get more insights about these trends: Download | IDEMIA. It explores the growth of digital wallet providers and how leveraging traditional card rails and EMV-grade technologies can unlock advanced wallet functionalities – from one-click payments to in-store one tap experiences.

Catch Alex Weaving, chief commercial officer for digital payment solutions at IDEMIA, on the Payments Stage at 2pm on Day One of Open Banking Expo UK & Europe, in the Powerhouse Debate ‘Digital wallets: Are banks winning or losing the customer interface?’.