Episode 42: Cashless but Card-First: Why Taiwan’s E-Payments Still Lag

Taiwan is already a highly cashless society — but not in the way many people assume. While e-payment accounts are widely adopted, credit cards still dominate the majority of transaction value. In this episode, we explore why Taiwan’s payment ecosystem evolved along a card-first path, how mobile wallets often still rely on card infrastructure, and why e-payments remain focused on small-value transactions. We also compare Taiwan’s digital payment landscape with China, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore to better understand how historical financial infrastructure shapes consumer behavior. Understanding Taiwan’s payment ecosystem provides a deeper perspective on how technology adoption is influenced by incentives, regulation, and legacy systems. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitehsu/ Read the original article: https://whitehsu.blog/2025/12/15/taiwan-cashless-credit-cards-e-payments/ Subscribe to Taiwan Tech Dispatch on: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast for more analysis on Taiwan’s technology ecosystem, startups, supply chains, and digital economy. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn