Visa Launches Three NFC-Enabled Digital Wallets to Advance Electronic Payments in Europe
Europe has taken a significant step forward in the digital payments landscape, with Visa announcing the launch of three fully digital wallets utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This development comes as part of strategic partnerships with leading financial institutions, including Spain’s BBVA, Sweden’s Klarna, and the Nordic Vipps MobilePay, alongside an additional collaboration with Italy’s BANCOMAT for a pilot project set to begin in early 2026.
This launch marks the first appearance of European digital wallets directly supported by Visa using Host Card Emulation (HCE) on iOS, following regulatory changes introduced by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which opened access to NFC chips for financial applications not owned by Apple. This regulatory shift has significantly transformed the European payments environment, enabling broader competition and faster innovation in smartphone-based payments.
Visa’s latest research indicates that mobile payments now account for 59% of total e-commerce transactions in Europe, with expectations that this figure will rise to 75% by 2030. Furthermore, approximately 32% of Europeans plan to rely entirely on digital wallets for future purchases, reflecting a clear trend toward wallet-centric payment systems due to their speed, simplicity, and the enhanced control they offer users.
Among the new launches, BBVA Spain introduced “BBVA Pay,” the first European wallet integrated with Visa tools via the Visa Token Service (VTS), enhancing payment security and providing users with advanced future-ready solutions. Klarna has implemented “Tap to Pay” in its app across 14 European countries, streamlining the unified in-app payment experience. In Northern Europe, Vipps MobilePay launched a joint Visa-branded wallet in Norway, with plans to expand soon to Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, enabling users to make payments worldwide wherever Visa is accepted.
In Italy, BANCOMAT is preparing a pilot project with Visa to enable contactless payments through BANCOMAT Pay using VisaPay security and tokenization solutions, with testing expected to begin in early 2026. BANCOMAT officials emphasized that this initiative represents a key step toward developing digital services that transcend national borders and strengthen Italy’s payment infrastructure at the European level.
Commenting on the launches, Matthew Altveig, Head of Products and Solutions at Visa Europe, stated that these new offerings reflect the rapidly growing demand for wallet-based payments. He described Visa as a “supercharger” that enables financial companies to innovate faster and provide consumers with broader options, supporting economic growth and digital transformation across Europe. Luis Simoes of BBVA highlighted that the launch reinforces the bank’s commitment to delivering an exceptional banking experience, while representatives from Klarna and Vipps MobilePay described the step as enhancing payment convenience and enabling seamless transactions globally.
Digital wallets are evolving rapidly, transforming from mere payment tools into integrated platforms supporting instant transfers, digital identity storage, cards, event tickets, and even digital keys. With expanded access to NFC technology, wallet capabilities are expected to include more secure and personalized services. Visa’s infrastructure supports diverse payment models, including card payments, direct bank transfers, and tokenized assets, offering partners greater flexibility to develop future-ready solutions that meet Europe’s dynamic market needs.
