The Evolution of Online Payments

Like it or not, money is a crucial part of our life. It allows us to buy things that let us live a comfortable and decent life. However, money has been in existence in some form or another for just about 5000 years. 

Before that time, there was a barter system that ancient people used to trade. Slowly, as humankind evolved, money evolved, too. 

From printing the first currency note to cashless transactions and bitcoins, needless to say, technological advancements have revolutionized payment methods. 

We’re here to take a step back and deep dive into understanding the evolution of online payments.

The Barter System: Trade in Ancient Times

Long before money was invented, ancient people used a barter system to exchange goods and services. This oldest form of commerce, which was practiced for centuries, involved two individuals negotiating their goods or services before they exchanged them in the form of trade. 

For example, a farmer may exchange his crops for a cow or salt. The quantity of rice to exchange used to depend on the perceived value of salt or cattle. 

It is believed that the first barter system was introduced by the Mesopotamians all the way back to 6000 BC. Later, it was adopted by the Phoenicians, who used it to barter goods with others across the oceans. 

With the rise of the Babylonians came a further improved bartering system when goods were exchanged for food, tea, weapons, and spices. 

Salt was another common and expensive merchandise that was exchanged. In fact, the Roman soldiers were paid their salaries with salt. 

In the Middle Ages, Europeans who traveled around the world started to barter crafts and furs in exchange for silk and perfume. 

Musket balls, deer skins, and wheat were some of the common barter items used by the colonial Americans. 

However, the barter system had its own limitations, too. 

The most common problem with the barter system was its inefficiency. 

For example, if a farmer wanted to exchange his rice for timber, he had to find someone who would have timber and wanted to exchange it for rice. The other problem was ensuring a fair exchange because the perceived value of goods and services varied.

The Introduction of Currency: Simplifying Trade

As we discussed, primitive societies used the barter system to exchange goods and services. Some ancient tribes also bartered goods in exchange for shells. However, the barter system had its own pitfalls, which slowly led to the invention of metal coins. 

The development of metal coins is estimated to date back to 700 to 500 BCE. Since the coins were standardized, trading became easy. The invention of gold and silver coins also made trade easy and convenient between countries. A country that had a surplus of any item could easily sell it to another country in exchange for coins.

The transition to paper notes happened in 1260 CE when the Yuan Dynasty of China switched to paper currency from coins. However, some parts of Europe continued to use metal coins until the 16th century. 

Introduction of banks

Later, once the banks became functional, they started to replace the coins using paper notes. People could take these notes to the bank to exchange for gold, silver, or coins. The paper money made it easy for everyone to buy goods and services.  

The shift to paper money simplified international trade. It enabled the movement of goods from one country to another, migration, and settlement, and created socioeconomic distinctions. 

The Advent of Electronic Payments

Although one may assume that electronic payment methods like credit and debit cards are modern payment methods, the earliest history of credit cards dates back to 5000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia. Inscriptions bearing mutual agreements on clay tablets were used when people wanted to buy at the moment and pay later. 

Fast forward to modern times, and those ancient clay tablets paved the way for store cards when merchants issued cards to farmers as a receipt of loans. The farmers who didn't have money to pay upfront used to pay later once crops were harvested. 

In 1950, the Diner's Club became the most popular and widely accepted form of credit card when its founder left his wallet at home while out dining. Diner's Club users would charge their meals to the card, and the restaurant would send the bill directly to the Diner's Club. The cardholders had to pay the bill to the Diner's Club at the end of the month. 

In 1958, American Express, originally a freight company, came up with its first credit card that allowed its customers to pay bills via the credit card. 

In 1966, the first interbank card was released when a group of California-based banks came together into a partnership. This card eventually evolved into the present-day MasterCard in 1979.

Credit cards got a new dimension with the advancement of technology. In the 1960s, an IBM engineer affixed magnetic tape on the back of the card so that the user got the updates when their cards were swiped at a point-of-sale. 

The popularity of credit cards saw some marked differences in buyer behavior. Different research studies have proved that credit cards increase the pleasure of buying, and users are willing to pay higher prices when given a chance to pay through credit cards. 

One hypothesis suggests that since credit cards reduce the "pain" of payment, they remove the holds on expenditure. A neural mechanism study associated with credit card purchases showed that a strong activation at the striatum occurs on the onset of credit card cue. 

The Digital Revolution: Birth of Online Payments

Online payment is an irreplaceable part of our modern lifestyle. The origin of online payment can be traced back to 1871 when Western Union introduced online money transfer in the US.

For the first time, people could pay for goods without being physically present for the transaction. However, the online payment mode saw rapid growth only after 1960 when the US Advanced Research Projects Agency Network laid the foundation of the modern-day internet.

Since then, the online payment landscape has rapidly evolved. 

Key Milestones

In 1994, the Stanford Federal Credit Union became the first financial institution in North America to launch its online banking service for its customers. 

As the banking industry saw the digital transformation, more financial corporations started embracing this journey. 

In the late 90s, PayPal entered the market and became the first global payment service provider.

Starting from the early 2000s, different companies across Asia started adopting the online payment mode. 

The UAE's banking sector has been at the forefront of digital transformation. Banks like Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank have pioneered online banking services, significantly enhancing customer convenience and transaction efficiency in the region.

Alibaba was established in 1999 as the first ecommerce platform in China. 

The next in line was the rise of digital wallets, which came into existence in 2011 when Google Wallet was launched ( Now known as Google Pay).

Today, most digital wallets are powered by cloud technology that offers inbuilt security and on-demand scalability and comes with intense processing features.

As the global landscape shifted towards electronic and online payments, the UAE too made significant strides in embracing digital technology. The introduction of real-time payment systems in the UAE, as part of a broader Middle Eastern strategy, signifies a pivotal move towards digital adoption. 

Notably, initiatives like the GCC RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement System) and the Arab Regional Payment System (BUNA) have been instrumental in standardizing and enhancing payment efficiency across the Gulf and Arab regions. 

These efforts reflect the UAE's commitment to modernizing its payment infrastructure, aligning with global trends while catering to regional needs.

The Rise of Mobile Payments and E-Wallets

As online payments and digital wallets gained prominence, we saw a sharp rise in mobile payments and e-wallets. As smartphones became affordable and accessible to all, mobile payments saw rapid adoption among the population. 

With e-wallets, carrying cash becomes unnecessary as your money is safely stored on your smartphone. Moreover, with mobile payment, you don't need to look around for ATMs to withdraw money— you can make a payment as long as you have a smartphone and internet connectivity. 

Consumer behavior also witnessed a stark difference with the change in technology. Businesses started to offer payment in digital mode to improve the customer experience, while the convenience of digital wallets paved the way for more online stores, the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to further adopt cashless and touchless payment modes. 

Consumers today prefer to shop from the convenience of their homes with just a few clicks. As predictions say, 21.2% of total retail sales will happen online by 2024. 

Reflecting global trends, the UAE has seen a surge in mobile payments and e-wallet adoption. Driven by a tech-savvy population and initiatives like Dubai's Smart City project, mobile payments have become a staple in the region's bustling commerce.

The Emergence of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain

While digital wallets and online payment have now stayed for many years and continue to offer a safe and convenient mode of transaction, the development of new technology is making way for new payment options. Bitcoins and cryptocurrency are emerging as powerful financial currencies that merchants can transfer between one another without the involvement of banks. Such a decentralized transaction mode has both its pros and cons. Some of these include:

Advantage of cryptocurrency 

Since no banks or intermediaries are involved, it eliminates the possibility of a single point of failure.

Decentralized transactions are secured by public and private keys, along with different incentive systems.

Cryptocurrency transfer is faster than traditional systems as no intermediaries are involved.

Cryptocurrency investment can earn you profit as the market grows. It’s valued at USD 680 billion as of November 2023. 

Disadvantage of cryptocurrency

Though cryptocurrency claims to be an anonymous form of transaction, certain agencies like the FBI can follow the digital trail.

Cryptocurrency is often used for malpractices. For example, hackers prefer cryptocurrency for ransomware. 

Although its transaction is decentralized, in reality, the ownership is highly concentrated. There are roughly 100 addresses that circulate 15% of the total value of Bitcoin. 

The Future of Payments: Towards a Cashless Society

If we look back to the history of the evolution of online payments, it’s only logical to predict that we’re slowly heading toward a cashless society. Although it might take some time to become completely cashless, it’s a fact that we’re slowly progressing toward becoming a cashless society. As technologies like AI, biometrics, and contactless transactions evolve along with the changing customer behavior, a cashless society is what looks the most logical next step. 

While we still can't predict where we will be in 2030 or 2060 in terms of cash, near-term projection sees a continuous decline in cash transactions. Cash projection in North America is only 8.7% by 2024. 

So, coming to the most pertaining question, if we are going to be a cashless society — the answer is a yes and a no. While many countries are heading fast towards embracing a cashless society, some countries will still be using cash transactions at least for the next few years. 

Conclusion

From barter systems to modern-day bitcoins, payment methods have been evolving steadily with the evolution of mankind. As new technology has come into existence, it has added new payment methods to the system, which has greatly influenced buyer behavior. 

The buyer who once couldn’t think of going out of the house without carrying their wallet can now comfortably go out with their smartphone, do shopping, and pay bills for their dinner. 

While we are steadily heading towards a cashless society, only time and technology will define what's in store for the future of payment and if we will ever become a completely cashless society.