New global consumer research from Paysafe indicates a shift in holiday traditions, with shoppers prioritizing gifting and receiving experiences over physical items, while also demonstrating a preference for flexible payment options, including digital wallets, and robust transactional security.
The ‘Inside the Wallet: Holiday Edition’ report, which surveyed 8,500 consumers across the U.
S., Brazil, the U.
K., Germany, Canada, Bulgaria, Ecuador, and Peru, highlights a strong demand for travel and experience-driven celebrations. Approximately half of consumers (49%) prefer gifting experiences such as food, drink, travel, concerts, and live entertainment, with 50% expressing a desire to receive experiences themselves. Furthermore, 44% of global consumers plan to travel during the holidays, with 16% planning international trips.
Digital gifting is also prevalent in the video gaming sector, where 64% of respondents favor gift cards like PaysafeCard as the most convenient option for gamers. The research also noted that nearly a quarter (23%) of consumers intend to place an online sports bet during the holidays, with soccer being the dominant sport globally (68%), American football leading in the U.
S. (60%), and ice hockey topping preferences in Canada (53%).
Consumer shopping habits are also evolving, with 47% planning to shop well in advance of the season, and 20% focusing on the Black Friday weekend. While debit cards (46%) and credit cards (37%) remain the primary payment methods for holiday shopping, digital wallets (27%) and cash or eCash (27%) have gained traction, alongside local payment methods (LPMs) at 10%. Shoppers are increasingly embracing omnichannel retail, with 34% dividing their purchases between online and in-store. Niche channels like social media shopping are also growing, particularly among younger demographics like Gen Z (11%). Support for small businesses and independent retailers remains strong, with 69% of global consumers planning to make purchases from them.
At checkout, convenience and security are crucial. The report found that 49% of consumers have abandoned a cart because their preferred payment method was unavailable, and 46% have done so due to concerns about the safety of their financial information.
Rob Gatto, Chief Revenue Officer at Paysafe, stated, “The holidays are shifting from shopping lists to memorable experiences. From gifting a dream trip to the latest game, shoppers want every moment, from payment choice to enjoyment, to be seamless, secure, and meaningful.”
The research for Paysafe’s ‘Inside the Wallet: Holiday Edition’ report was conducted by Sapio Research through an online survey in September 2025.
