Contactless EMV Cards Market Report 2026

The contactless emv cards market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $26.48 billion in 2025 to $30.12 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of card-based payment networks, rising consumer preference for faster transactions, widespread deployment of nfc-enabled terminals, increased regulatory push for secure payments, growth of cashless payment ecosystems.

The contactless emv cards market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $49.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing penetration of contactless payments in emerging markets, rising adoption of mobile and wearable payments, expansion of government-backed digital identity programs, growing focus on payment security innovation, increasing collaboration between banks and fintech firms. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of tap-to-pay card solutions, rising demand for dual-interface emv cards, growing integration with digital wallet ecosystems, expansion of secure contactless payment infrastructure, enhanced focus on fraud prevention and data encryption.

The growing demand for contactless payments is expected to drive the expansion of the contactless Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV) cards market in the future. Contactless payments involve quick and secure transactions made by tapping a card or smart device near a compatible terminal, eliminating the need for physical contact or PIN entry. This increase is fueled by consumers seeking faster, more convenient transactions that reduce checkout times and limit physical interaction. Contactless EMV cards cater to this demand by enabling secure tap-and-go payments, enhancing speed and convenience at the point of sale. For example, in January 2025, the European Central Bank reported that contactless card payments at physical point-of-sale terminals in Germany rose by 13.2% in the first half of 2024, reaching $29.83 billion (€25.8 billion) compared to the same period in 2023. Thus, the rising preference for contactless payments is boosting the growth of the contactless EMV cards market.

Key players in the contactless Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV) cards market are focusing on developing advanced technologies such as contactless EMV open payment systems to improve transaction speed, user convenience, and seamless integration with public transport and retail networks. A contactless EMV open payment system is a secure, interoperable payment method that allows users to make real-time tap-and-go transactions using EMV-compliant cards or devices across various public and commercial platforms. For instance, in July 2024, Conduent Transportation, a US-based provider of automated and analytics-driven transportation solutions, introduced an EMV contactless open payment system on Venice’s public transportation network operated by Azienda Veneziana della Mobilità (AVM). This system allows passengers to pay fares using contactless credit and debit cards as well as NFC-enabled devices such as smartphones and smartwatches with digital wallets. It supports multiple transport modes including water buses, ferries, speedboats, motorboats, buses, trams, and people movers, with over 2,200 validators installed network-wide. The system accepts various ticket types, such as Venezia Unica cards and electronic tickets, and automatically calculates the best fare for users.

In June 2025, TOPPAN Holdings Inc., a Japan-based provider of secure smart cards and digital ID solutions, acquired dzcard Group for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition aims to significantly broaden TOPPAN Security’s footprint and capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, reinforcing its leadership in the Asian payment card market. It also enhances TOPPAN’s ability to deliver localized, secure physical and digital payment solutions in emerging and high-growth markets. dzcard Group, based in Thailand, specializes in manufacturing and personalizing smart cards, including contactless EMV cards, along with related digital solutions.

Major companies operating in the contactless emv cards market are Wells Fargo & Company, American Express Company, Capital One Financial Corporation, Barclays Public Limited Company, Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated, Discover Financial Services, Toppan ID Solutions Corporation, Giesecke+Devrient GmbH, IDEMIA Identity & Security France SAS, HID Global Corporation, Entrust Corporation, CPI Card Group Inc., Matica Technologies AG, Perfect Plastic Printing Corporation, Watchdata Technologies Ltd., Advanced Card Systems Limited, Multos International Pte. Ltd., China UnionPay Co. Ltd., Tag Systems S.A., CardLogix Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the contactless EMV cards market in 2025. The regions covered in the contactless emv cards market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the contactless emv cards market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The contactless EMV cards market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as contactless payments, secure transactions, multi-currency support, and online and mobile payments. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The contactless EMV cards market also includes sales of products, including transit cards, wearable payment devices, co-branded cards, corporate expense cards, and government benefit cards. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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