Europe NFC Payments Market Assessment, By Device Type [Smartphones, Smartwatches, NFC-Enabled Cards, Others], By Payment Type [Person-to-Merchants, Person-to-Person], By End-user [Retail, Transportation, Hospitality, Healthcare, Others], By Countries, Opp

Europe NFC payments market is projected to witness a CAGR of 7.21% during the forecast period 2025-2032, growing from USD 5.21 billion in 2024 to USD 9.09 billion in 2032, owing to consumer demand for convenience, regulatory support, technological advancements, retail & transit sector adoption and cross-border inoperability. Public transport systems, app-based banks, and retail ecosystems have built seamless NFC infrastructure across the region. The European Commission’s broader digital strategy is reinforcing this shift, while national players push integration deeper into daily services.

For instance, in October 2024, France’s National Retail Payments Committee (CNMP) released its 2025–2030 strategy, aiming to promote universal acceptance of digital and contactless payments, including NFC, to reduce cash use and bolster European payment sovereignty.

Pan-European NFC Interoperability Push Fueling Market

European countries are building a unified payment network. For instance, in November–December 2023, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese schemes (Bancomat, Bizum, and MB Way) launched the European Payments Alliance (EuroPA). In June 2025, The EuroPA alliance (European Payments Alliance) and EPI Company (EPI) announced a strategic cooperation to address Europe’s payment sovereignty, with a particular focus on improving cross-border transactions. The initiative seeks to enable seamless payments for European citizens and businesses across the continent. The goal is to enhance interconnectivity and cover all payment use cases, including person-to-person, online, in-store, and commercial transactions, across participating markets. This move is expected to benefit both consumers and merchants, advancing the vision of a unified European payments landscape.

EuroPA's new policy unifies NFC payments, ending fragmented digital wallets. This allows retail, tourism, and hospitality to accept one tap across nations. Merchants benefit from simpler POS upgrades; users get consistent, easy payments. This cross-border interoperability is now real, accelerating adoption and investment.

Public Transport Networks Encouraging Habit Formation and Supporting Growth in the NFC Payments Market

Transit systems are proving to be critical accelerators for NFC adoption. Regular exposure to NFC tech through public transit builds muscle memory. It normalizes the tap-and-go behavior, ultimately pushing adoption across sectors. For instance, in November 2024, Madrid’s EMT rolled out a Virtual Transport Card, allowing Android phone users to tap directly for buses and metros, no physical card or app needed. iOS and subscription pass integration are expected by 2025 end. Once Google Wallet is activated and the card is purchased, the card will automatically be transferred to the Google platform.

Across cities like London, Brussels, and Prague, similar tap-to-ride NFC rollouts have made public transit a training ground for mobile payments. Once users tap daily to commute, they begin tapping for groceries, cafés, and retail too.

Smartphones Dominate NFC Payment Volume

Smartphones now drive the majority of NFC transaction volume across Europe. The smartphone isn’t just a wallet; it’s a central hub for digital payments. As mobile usage surpasses cards, it cements the smartphone’s role as the default interface for NFC in Europe.

For instance, according to a June 2024 study by the NFC Forum, more than 80% of European consumers use phones or smartwatches for contactless payments, with 55% preferring smartphones over cards. Also, 73% of consumers now regard themselves as ‘familiar’ or ‘very familiar’ with NFC contactless technology – an increase from 67% in the 2022 edition of the study.

This preference is particularly strong in urban centers like Paris, Berlin, and Amsterdam, where NFC-enabled smartphones offer seamless checkout, biometric security, and real-time digital receipts. Retailers benefit too, mobile NFC ties into loyalty programs and analytics, enhancing customer engagement.

Impact of U.S. Tariffs on Europe NFC Payments Market

• The U.S. tariff policy has created significant ripple effects across the Europe NFC payment market, reshaping supply chains, pricing strategies, and competitive dynamics.
• US tariffs imposed on goods imported from the European Union create significant ripple effects for the European market. Firstly, these tariffs can indirectly dampen European economic growth, as reduced exports to the US impact various European industries and overall business confidence. This economic slowdown often translates to decreased investment by European institutions in new technologies like NFC payment systems, as they prioritize cost containment and navigate an uncertain consumer landscape, hindering market expansion.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The Europe NFC payments landscape is increasingly cohesive. With backing from the European Commission, national networks, and fintech ecosystems, the market is shifting from scattered innovation to unified execution. Instead of competing only on hardware coverage, players are optimizing software agility, open-loop access, and device-first experiences. Wearables, mobile apps, and interoperable POS terminals are no longer value-adds; they’re standard. NFC is less about tech and more about trust: tap, pay, done, anytime, anywhere.

For instance, in July 2024, the European Commission made Apple Inc.'s commitments to allow third-party wallets access to iPhone NFC legally binding. This opened tap to pay opportunities outside of Apple Pay, enabling ~3,000 EU banks to integrate their own payment apps using NFC. The result is expected to be ultimately good for users. If they want to stick with Apple’s Wallet app, nothing changes for them. If they prefer an alternative, they now have the option to use that seamlessly. Show more