E-commerce in France 2025: Payment innovations to watch to stay competitive
In 2024, e-commerce in France reached a record turnover of €175.3 billion, a 9.6% increase compared to 2023, according to Fevad. Forecasts for 2025 suggest that the market may cross the symbolic €200 billion threshold, driven by a projected 10% rise in transaction volume.
But behind this growth lies a more sobering reality: 1 in 2 consumers has already abandoned a purchase due to a poor payment experience. For industry players, the challenge is no longer just to sell, but to turn every transaction into a lever for loyalty and profitability. Here’s a breakdown of the payment shifts to anticipate now.
Instant payments: a new regulatory standard and business opportunity
Since January 2025, instant credit transfers are mandatory across the EU, requiring providers to settle funds in under 10 seconds, 24/7. Introduced under Regulation COM(2022)546, this change goes far beyond compliance—it offers merchants an unprecedented cash flow advantage.
However, it also introduces new risks. Merchants who fail to comply face regulatory sanctions from October 2025, while more agile players will gain market share by offering a smoother checkout experience.
Wero, a solution developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), aims to capture 15% of the European market by 2027 (source: Les Échos).
BNPL 3.0: when responsible credit becomes a conversion driver
The Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) model is evolving, driven by the EU Directive 2023/2225, which enforces strict pricing transparency and creditworthiness assessments.
Leading players like Klarna and Alma now integrate AI-driven credit scoring to assess buyers’ financial health in real time, significantly reducing default risk.
This more mature regulatory framework opens new strategic opportunities. For example, premium merchants offering BNPL 3.0 have seen their average basket size increase by 35% (Kantar).
Open Banking, AI, and ethical payments: the new tech pillars
The rise of Open Banking is directly linked to the enforcement of PSD2, which enables secure API-based sharing of banking data. This model supports direct bank transfers that are cheaper than card payments and reduce fraud risks.
The upcoming PSD3 directive, expected by late 2025, will further strengthen these practices, particularly around consent management and anti-fraud measures (source: European Commission).
Artificial Intelligence plays a critical role in payment security. According to Juniper Research, AI applied to fraud prevention could help businesses save up to $10.4 billion annually by 2026.
Smarter, safer payments with Open Banking, AI, and PSD3
With PSD2 enabling secure, direct API-based transfers, Open Banking is now a cost-effective, low-risk alternative to card payments. PSD3 will enhance this further by improving data governance and fraud protection.
AI has become a cornerstone of payment security. By integrating intelligent fraud detection tools, merchants can better protect transactions while offering a smoother and more contextual checkout experience.
Emerging practices: biometrics, crypto, and virtual cards
Biometric payments are gaining traction. According to the 2024 Goode Intelligence report, over 3.1 billion users worldwide will use biometrics to authenticate payments by the end of 2025.
Cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are also entering the e-commerce mainstream. 15% of e-commerce sites in Europeare expected to accept at least one stablecoin (e.g., USDT or EURC) by the end of 2025 (Crypto.com & Cointelegraph Research).
Single-use virtual cards, offered by fintechs like Revolut and Qonto, are increasingly used to prevent data theft and fraud. These ephemeral cards—recommended by cybersecurity agencies like ANSSI—expire quickly or after one use, adding an extra layer of security.
Finally, financial super apps like Lydia, Revolut, and Klarna are consolidating payment, cashback, budgeting, credit, and savings features into unified platforms. This Asia-born model is now gaining traction in Europe (source: McKinsey 2024 Fintech Report).
Payment orchestration: the secret weapon of agile merchants
In an increasingly fragmented payment ecosystem, orchestration is becoming essential. These platforms unify all payment flows (mobile, online, in-store) while optimizing routes based on local preferences, purchase history, and user behavior.
They also ensure regulatory compliance (PSD3, GDPR, PCI DSS) and simplify integration of new solutions like BNPL, wallets, and stablecoins.
In short: they turn complexity into performance.
2025: the year of bold moves
French e-commerce is entering a new era, shaped by the convergence of technology, regulation, and ethical expectations.
The rise of players like Wero, the growth of instant and biometric payments, and the gradual acceptance of crypto are redefining the customer experience.
To succeed in a highly regulated and globalized market, merchants must be agile, innovative, and responsible.
Those who smartly integrate these innovations—from BNPL 3.0 to instant payments, AI, and biometrics—will gain in loyalty, margins, and market share.
