Eastern Europe Fintech Digital Payment Market Size and Forecast by Type, End Users, Industry, Payment Method, Transaction Value, Transaction Types, and Region: Statistics | 2019-2033

Eastern Europe Fintech Digital Payment Market Growth and Performance

• With a 27.0% YoY growth, the Eastern Europe fintech digital payment market size was US$ XX Billion in 2023.
• The market in Eastern Europe is anticipated to reach US$ XX Trillion by 2033, with a CAGR of 18.9%.

Eastern Europe Fintech Digital Payment Market Outlook

The Eastern European fintech digital payment market is undergoing a remarkable transformation in 2024, driven by rising smartphone adoption, regulatory evolution, and consumer preference for seamless, cashless transactions. Digital wallets and mobile payment apps are becoming the primary interface for daily financial activities across countries like Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and the Baltics. Apps like Revolut, Paysera, and Wise are no longer limited to basic peer-to-peer transfers; they are evolving into super apps offering integrated services like insurance, investment, travel booking, and even cryptocurrency trading—all under one platform. This all-in-one model reflects a broader global fintech trend and is quickly redefining user expectations across the region.

The digital payments ecosystem in Eastern Europe is also witnessing the rapid rise of embedded finance and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS). From ride-hailing services offering instant loans to e-commerce platforms with Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, non-financial brands are increasingly embedding financial capabilities into their offerings. With the European BaaS industry projected to grow from $8.9 billion in 2024 to $36.1 billion by 2034, local fintech players are focusing heavily on infrastructure innovation and API integrations. Eastern Europe, known for its strong tech talent, is becoming a hub for BaaS startups that enable everything from digital onboarding to automated invoice reconciliation.

A standout feature of Eastern Europe’s fintech innovation is its embrace of cryptocurrencies and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Ukraine, for instance, has been aggressively piloting its digital hryvnia in response to the growing demand for modern, secure, and transparent payment infrastructure. Turkey, though straddling both Eastern Europe and Asia, is also leading digital lira initiatives as part of its broader digitization strategy. These developments signal the region’s openness to decentralized finance and blockchain-powered payment models. At the same time, fintech players are increasingly integrating crypto payments for remittances, online commerce, and B2B settlements, pushing the boundaries of traditional finance.

Security remains a top priority as digital adoption accelerates. In response to growing threats, firms are deploying multi-factor authentication (MFA) and AI-powered fraud detection systems. These technologies are now standard across most Eastern European digital banks and payment gateways, ensuring transaction integrity even amid rising volumes. The adoption of PSD3-compliant frameworks further boosts consumer trust by ensuring transparency, real-time reporting, and data privacy. With over 60% of online payments now digital, the demand for secure, frictionless experiences has never been higher.

Eastern Europe is also seeing explosive growth in contactless payments, facilitated by increased transaction limits and the proliferation of wearable tech and NFC-enabled smartphones. In Poland, contactless now accounts for over 75% of in-store payments, making it one of the most advanced markets in Europe. Similar trends are unfolding in Czechia and Hungary, where banks and telecoms are collaborating to promote digital wallet usage. The convergence of biometric authentication, mobile-first UX, and open banking APIs is allowing consumers to transact instantly and intuitively.

Beneath this consumer-facing innovation lies a robust transformation in B2B payment practices. Approximately 45% of B2B sales are still conducted on credit in the region, but automation tools are helping companies reduce the average 40-day payment term and combat the 46% rate of late payments. Fintechs offering invoice financing, dynamic discounting, and SME lending solutions are rapidly gaining traction, especially as regulatory reforms like the EU’s New Late Payment Regulation aim to protect smaller enterprises.

Regulatory frameworks are playing a decisive role in shaping this ecosystem. The Instant Payment Regulation, EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDIW), and SEPA Payment Account Access (SPAA) scheme are foundational to the region's next-gen financial infrastructure. These regulations not only standardize security and speed across borders but also unlock new opportunities for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) to innovate with premium APIs and smart recurring payments. This is particularly advantageous for smaller fintechs that now compete on service quality and API performance, not just scale.

Looking ahead, Eastern Europe is poised to become a testbed for instant payments, digital euro integration, and AI-driven payment personalization. Already, Polish fintech Blik is expanding into Romania and Slovakia, while Bulgaria and Lithuania are seeing a rise in localized wallets and fintech sandboxes. The trend toward platformization—where payments, lending, identity, and analytics converge—is gathering momentum, aligning the region with broader European fintech shifts.

In summary, the Eastern European digital payments market in 2024 is not merely catching up—it’s innovating with agility and purpose. From super apps to CBDCs, embedded finance to smart fraud prevention, the region is setting benchmarks in digital transformation, inclusivity, and regulatory harmony. As cash usage declines and digital infrastructure strengthens, Eastern Europe is emerging as a critical node in the global fintech payments network.

Eastern Europe Fintech Digital Payment Market Scope

Eastern Europe Fintech Digital Payment Industry: Country Coverage