Wednesday 2 September, 2026
Mobile money is a key payment instrument in the digital financial services (DFS) landscape, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where traditional banking services may not be accessible to women, rural populations andvulnerable groups. Mobile money has enabled these underserved customer segments in particular to “leapfrog” to DFS and build better livelihoods and sustainable businesses.
However, mobile money has the potential to do more. For example, efforts to expand financial literacy are underway, as is the development and offering of more complex financial products, including productive digital credit and insurance. Despite its socio-economic benefits and significant contribution to financial inclusion, mobile money risks being overregulated, stifling innovation and the accessibility of DFS.
This handbook provides a guide to key issues for policymakers and regulators to examine the possibilities and provision of mobile money in an increasingly digital world.
In 2023, around 1.75 billion mobile money accounts processed more than USD 1.4 trillion a year. Worldwide, mobile money increased gross domestic product (GDP) by $600 billion between 2013 and 2022. There is no doubt that the industry will see more gains, and as financial ecosystems become more interconnected the potential of mobile money could be exponential.
