
Mastercard Envisions a Future of Password-Free and Numberless Payments by 2030
Mastercard today unveiled its ambitious plan to revolutionize online shopping by 2030. The company envisions a future where physical card numbers and passwords are no longer required for online purchases. Instead, secure, on-device biometrics will provide seamless authentication, keeping personal data safely stored on the device. This vision is already taking shape in major markets and is set to become a global standard in the coming years.
“Much like the transition from swiping to tapping cards, we are now advancing from manual entries and passwords to effortless, secure payments with just a few clicks. Through this shift, we will ensure sensitive data is protected using cutting-edge encryption and tokenization technologies,” said Jorn Lambert, Chief Product Officer at Mastercard.
By 2030, Mastercard aims to fully eliminate the need for manually entering card details and one-time passwords. The company will combine tokenization, a technology introduced ten years ago to protect personal and payment data, with biometric authentication to ensure secure and seamless checkout experiences. This approach will allow every online transaction across the Mastercard network to be tokenized and authenticated, making online payments faster and more secure.
Despite the growth of advanced digital payment solutions, online shopping still faces significant challenges. Fraud rates online are seven times higher than in physical stores, with criminals exploiting exposed card numbers, leading to financial losses for merchants and card issuers. Additionally, Mastercard research shows that nearly two-thirds of shoppers still struggle with manually entering card information, and 25% abandon their carts due to complex or slow checkout processes.
Mastercard’s vision also promises a new era for physical cards. By making numberless physical cards the default, the risk of fraud is significantly reduced in the event of a lost or stolen card.
Mastercard’s tokenization technology is already improving online checkout. Currently, tokenization is reducing cart abandonment and increasing transaction approval rates by 3-6 percentage points globally, generating up to $2 billion in additional monthly sales for merchants. These advancements also minimize the risk of fraud, benefiting banks, consumers, and businesses alike.
“Like the shift from signing and swiping to tapping cards, we are moving away from manual entry and passwords to seamless, secure payments,” Lambert added. “This evolution empowers consumers with greater control and convenience, boosts merchant sales, and reduces fraud for issuers.”
To achieve this vision by 2030, Mastercard is continuing its collaboration with partners across the payments ecosystem, supported by the Mastercard Gateway. Key developments include:
- More than 30% of Mastercard transactions worldwide are now tokenized through Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES), with markets like India approaching 100% e-commerce tokenization.
- Mastercard Payment Passkey Service, which launched in India, Singapore, and the UAE, is expanding globally. It is already deployed by leading banks, payment aggregators, and online merchants like Axis Bank, BigBasket, Juspay, noon Payments, Lenskart, Razorpay, PayU, and Tap Payments.
- Click to Pay is also growing rapidly, with issuers like Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ING Spain, NatWest, and Santander Mexico adopting the technology. Acquirers, payment service providers, and other partners such as Adyen, Prestashop, Worldline, and Yuno are enabling this technology, with international merchants like Arcos Dorados, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Nando’s, and Pizza Hut already accepting Click to Pay.
This initiative builds upon Mastercard’s long-standing commitment to security and innovation, such as its 2021 decision to phase out magnetic stripe technology in favor of more secure alternatives.
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Through partnerships, innovation, and technology, Mastercard is creating a sustainable economy where everyone can thrive. The company offers a wide range of digital payment solutions, ensuring secure, simple, and accessible transactions for individuals, businesses, and governments.