Digital payment balances in Taiwan jump to $542m in January boom

Account users also increased to 38.69 million.

Balances held in Taiwan’s electronic payment accounts rose to $542m (NT$17.28b) in January 2026, up from $487m (NT$15.51b) in December 2025, according to the Financial Supervisory Commission (Taiwan).

The number of account users increased to 38.69 million from 37.65 million the previous month.

Ten specialised electronic payment institutions operated solely in the sector, whilst 20 others—including banks and Chunghwa Post Co, Ltd—offered electronic payments alongside other services.

The total number of effective stored value cards increased to 201.31 million from 200.14 million at the end of December 2025, though active cards in use declined slightly to 13.82 million from 14.15 million.

Total stored value on these cards rose marginally to $495m (NT$15.78b) from $493m (NT$15.74b).

Monthly retail sales via electronic payments fell to $198m (NT$6.32b) from $210m (NT$6.7b) in December.

Monthly funds stored in accounts rose to $912m (NT$29.07b) from $866m (NT$27.62b), whilst funds handled as an agent for transactions reached $722m (NT$23.02b), up from $637m (NT$20.29b).

Domestic and international small-amount remittances totalled $459m (NT$14.64b), slightly down from $495m (NT$15.79b) the previous month.

(US$1 = NT$31.88)