Russia is experiencing a sharp increase in cashless payments made without physical bank cards. According to the Central Bank, in the first quarter of 2025, the number of transactions via QR codes doubled compared to the same period last year, and the number of payments using biometrics increased by 12 times.
In addition to QR codes and biometric authentication, other payment methods are gaining popularity: direct transfers from accounts, payments via electronic wallets, and mobile banking applications. At the same time, traditional card transactions are showing stagnation.
The main growth factors are the convenience and speed of transactions. QR payments allow you to make purchases in one click, and biometrics (for example, payment by face or fingerprint) eliminates the need to enter passwords.
However, experts note that not all users are ready to completely abandon cards. Some fear biometric data leaks, and banks do not yet offer sufficient financial incentives to switch to new technologies.
T-Bank expects that by 2026, every third payment in Russia will be made without a card. Other analysts believe that a mass transition will take longer due to the need to increase trust and improve infrastructure.
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