The popularity of contactless payments continues to rise, even after the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey conducted by market researcher Ipsos and the Free University of Brussels (VUB)

reveals that 38 percent of Belgians consider contactless payments by card or smartphone as their preferred method of payment.

According to the 'Digital Payments Barometer' released by Febelfin, the umbrella organization for banking in Belgium, 83 percent of respondents opt for digital payments instead of cash. Notably, the use of not only bank cards but also smartphones, QR codes, and cryptocurrencies is increasingly gaining traction. Belgians, on average, are twice as likely to pay electronically in physical stores compared to using cash.

Furthermore, online purchases are also on the rise in popularity. Four out of five Belgians now shop online and utilize payment methods such as debit cards, banking apps, or credit cards.

The survey, which involved 1,187 Belgian participants, was conducted in March on behalf of Febelfin, Bancontact Payconiq Company, Mastercard, Visa, and Worldline. Photo by Nicolas Nova, Wikimedia commons.