4 in 10 APAC firms prefer instant payments for cross border transfers

72% of instant payment use is currently tied to standard customer purchases.

Forty-three per cent of Asia-Pacific businesses use instant payments for cross-border transactions, according to the 2026 Commerce and Payment Trends Report.

Global firms are now investing more heavily in instant payment systems than in other high-profile financial technologies. 

The report further stated that nearly a third of businesses currently use instant payments, significantly outperforming embedded finance at 10% and self-service technologies at 5%.

Whilst 72% of instant payment use is currently tied to standard customer purchases and refunds, Mastercard executives note that the technology is shifting towards business-to-consumer disbursements. 

Industry experts suggest that because peer-to-peer transfers are already common, consumers now expect businesses to offer the same speed for loyalty rewards and insurance payouts.

The financial incentive for this shift is primarily driven by cost and cash flow. For many firms, instant payments utilise open banking frameworks, which often carry lower processing fees than traditional methods. 

These savings become more pronounced as transaction values increase. Furthermore, the immediate nature of these transfers shortens accounts payable and receivable cycles, allowing companies to access working capital faster.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, the impact is often more critical. Improved cash flow allows these smaller firms to meet payroll, update inventory, and handle reconciliation without the stress of multi-day payment lags.