Stay Ahead: Insights, Trends, and Payment Updates
from Debia

Discover how KakaoPay connects Singapore merchants to Korean mobile wallet users. Learn how Debia enables Kakao Pay acceptance across payment channels.

India represents Singapore's third-largest tourist market and one of its most significant expatriate communities. In 2024, Singapore welcomed 1.2 million Indian visitors, while approximately 675,000 Indians call Singapore home as residents, professionals, and students. For Singapore merchants, this combined demographic creates a substantial and growing customer base that increasingly expects to pay using India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the world's most widely adopte

The Philippines represents one of Singapore’s most vibrant and digitally engaged Asian trade and tourism partners. As a top source market for visitors and a home to a large, dynamic expatriate community, the Philippines generates a substantial and consistent flow of cross-border commerce for Singapore businesses. According to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Philippines ranked among Singapore's top ten visitor source markets in 2024, contributing approximately 779,000 v

TrueMoney dominates Thailand's digital payments landscape as the country's leading e-wallet with 53% market share and over 30 million active users domestically, according to Statista. As Thailand's first authorized e-wallet service provider, established in 2013, TrueMoney has become the primary financial tool for daily cashless transactions across retail, dining, transportation, and bill payments. According to Rakuten Insight research, 83% of Thai e-payment users actively use

QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) is Indonesia’s national QR payment framework developed by Bank Indonesia to unify all domestic wallets and banks under a single system. It now connects over 30 million merchants and 45 million active users across the country. For Singapore merchants in retail, hospitality, and travel, enabling QRIS payments opens access to one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital consumer markets. In 2024 alone, more than 2.3 million Indon

AlipayHK is transforming how Hong Kong consumers shop and pay abroad, bridging cross-border transactions across Asia through its QR-based, Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) payment system. For Singapore merchants, it provides a direct link to high-spending Hong Kong travellers and expatriates who expect the same mobile-first experience they enjoy at home. According to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, over 3.5 million active users rely on AlipayHK for daily transactions, representing on

UnionPay QR has become one of the fastest-growing cross-border QR payment systems in Asia, connecting Singapore merchants directly to millions of Chinese and regional travellers. As tourism rebounds, enabling UnionPay QR is no longer optional for businesses that depend on inbound customers. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, Chinese visitors contributed more than S$3 billion in tourism receipts in 2023, while overall QR payment adoption across Asia surpassed 80% of con

The landscape of cashless payments in Singapore is fiercely competitive. For businesses in retail, F&B, and hospitality, the key to growth lies in catering to every customer’s preference, especially high-value international tourists. While local mobile payments are common, a massive opportunity exists within China's dominant social commerce ecosystem, powered by WeChat Pay. This is far more than another mobile wallet; it is a direct channel to a colossal market. In the first

Touch ’n Go eWallet has become one of Malaysia’s most dominant digital payment platforms, with over 20 million active users and wide adoption across transport, retail, and dining. As cross-border travel between Singapore and Malaysia rebounds, accepting Touch ’n Go payments has turned from a nice-to-have into a strategic advantage for merchants operating near tourist districts or serving Malaysian visitors. For Singapore businesses, particularly in F&B, retail, and hospitalit

Alipay has become one of Asia’s most influential digital wallets, transforming how millions of consumers pay, travel, and shop. For Singapore merchants, it serves as a direct link to one of the world’s highest-spending customer groups: Chinese travellers. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, visitors from China generated over S$3 billion in tourism receipts in 2023, a figure expected to climb further as travel continues to recover. Through Alipay+, merchants in Singapore

Google Pay has become a pivotal player in Singapore's digital payments landscape, offering consumers a swift, secure way to complete transactions using their Android devices. As mobile wallet adoption continues to accelerate across Southeast Asia, Google Pay stands out for its seamless integration with Android phones and wearables, combined with robust encryption technology that protects user data at every transaction point. With Android devices representing over 55% of the s

ShopBack Pay is one of Singapore’s fastest-growing payment options, extending the reach of the popular cashback and rewards ecosystem that over 2.5 million Singaporeans already use. Built into the ShopBack app, the payment feature lets users pay in-store and online while earning instant cashback, turning every purchase into a loyalty-building interaction. For merchants, this presents a distinct opportunity. Accepting ShopBack Pay means tapping into a ready base of high-intent

ShopeePay has evolved from an in-app wallet into one of Singapore’s most widely used digital payment options. In 2024, digital wallets accounted for 39% of all e-commerce transaction value  and 29% of in-store POS payments , reflecting a major shift in how Singaporeans pay both online and offline. With over 210,000 merchants  supporting SGQR nationwide, ShopeePay has become a familiar and trusted option for local consumers. What began as a payment method for Shopee’s online m

As one of the world’s leading digital wallets, Apple Pay combines convenience, strong encryption, and seamless integration with the iPhone ecosystem. With more than  60% of iPhone users in Singapore already using mobile wallets , Apple Pay has become a default choice for contactless and online transactions. Globally, Apple Pay processed an estimated  USD 7.6 trillion in payments in 2024, according to industry reports, reflecting its dominance in digital commerce. In Singapore

Learn how American Express boosts revenue and drives sales and payment insights in Singapore.

GrabPay has become one of the most recognised digital payment methods in Singapore, driving the nation’s shift toward a fully cashless economy. Operating as part of the Grab super-app ecosystem, GrabPay enables consumers to pay instantly via QR code or mobile wallet while allowing merchants to enjoy fast, secure, and traceable transactions. Today, GrabPay works with over 600,000 merchants across Southeast Asia , making it one of the region’s largest digital-wallet networks. I

Launched and promoted by Singapore banks under the guidance of the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2017, PayNow enables real-time bank-to-bank transfers using a mobile number, NRIC, or corporate UEN. For merchants, this changes accepting digital payments. Rather than waiting for card settlements or reconciling multiple payment channels, merchants can receive funds almost instantly and reduce the time and cost associated with daily till management. According to the Moneta

As the world's largest card network by transaction volume, processing 222 billion transactions worth $17.9 trillion in 2023, UnionPay dominates card issuance across China and increasingly throughout Southeast Asia. For Singapore merchants, this scale translates into direct access to Chinese tourists who contributed $3.4 billion to Singapore's tourism receipts in 2024, with 3.6 million Chinese visitor arrivals representing one of Singapore's top three source markets. Unlike Vi

Mastercard sits at the core of Singapore’s cashless transformation. As one of the world’s largest payment networks, it processes more than 100 billion transactions annually  across cards and digital wallets. For merchants in retail, F&B, and service sectors, accepting Mastercard is not optional; it is essential for offering convenience, trust, and speed at checkout. When integrated through Debia’s unified payment gateway , Mastercard acceptance becomes seamless across in-stor

Learn about the inner workings of Visa payments and the merchant advantage from accepting Visa today!