ItalyThe article reports on payment trends in Italy as of 2025, highlighting a significant shift towards contactless payments at POS terminals. According to data from the Bank of Italy, 88% of payments were made using contactless methods, while 24% were conducted via smartphones or smartwatches. Despite this growth, cash remains the most widely used payment method, accounting for 61% of transactions in retail settings. The rise of card-based payments has been substantial, with cards representing 75% of non-cash transactions by 2025. Debit cards dominate, making up 71.2% of all POS transactions. While cash usage has declined slightly, it remains prevalent, especially in certain regions like the South. The decline in bank branches has occurred alongside increased digital access to cash services.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data on payment trends without overtly favoring any political ideology. It provides balanced information on the declining use of cash versus the rising adoption of contactless and digital payments, without taking a clear stance on which system is superior or more ethical
