Everything You Need To Know To Create A Digital Wallet App App Development
Do we really need to discuss the amount of stress that comes with starting a fintech company and having to develop a product that is competitive, meets consumer requirements, and surpasses other fintech products? Not at all. But we have to figure out how to help you accomplish all of these objectives.
Keep reading this blog to know about digital wallets also known as e-wallets and understand the process of a digital wallet development.
FinTech Magazine says that as per insights by an Asian market, by 2025, there will be between 2.7 to 4.8 billion mobile wallets in use globally, which is more than half of the world’s population and demonstrates the explosive growth of mobile payments worldwide.
It also added a saying from Ryan O’Holleran, Head of Sales, Enterprise at Airwallex, a global financial technology business: “Over 60% of the world’s population is expected to use digital wallets by 2026.”
What Is a Digital Wallet?
A digital wallet also known as an electronic wallet, is a potential financial transaction application that works on several connected devices. Its key function is to keep your payment details in the cloud securely. Digital wallets are accessible in several forms, including mobile wallets made particularly for mobile devices and computer-accessible wallets.
Digital wallets serve as a central location for saving money, facilitating transactions, and monitoring payment history in addition to being financial apps. Additionally, they prioritize security by incorporating multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, and biometric authentication features like Face ID and Touch ID, which significantly lowers the risk of fraud.
But that’s not all digital wallets can help accomplish. They offer a versatile storage solution for numerous items beyond payment methods. From gift cards, membership cards, and loyalty cards to coupons, event tickets, and even plane or transit tickets, the potential is huge. Furthermore, digital wallets can authenticate a person’s age when buying age-limited items such as alcohol.
How Digital Wallet Works?
Initiating a transaction contains the digital wallet sending the particular card details to the point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Payment processors linked to the terminal route the payment via banks and credit card networks for completing transactions.
The method of using a digital wallet for both online and offline transactions is easy. After using a PIN number, fingerprint identification, or facial recognition to access the wallet app, users agree upon their chosen payment method from the list of options the app stores. When making purchases online, consumers select the preferred payment option in their mobile wallet and go through the company’s standard checkout procedure.
Payment information is transferred from the user’s smartphone to a card reader or payment terminal during in-person transactions using wireless and magnetic technologies. Customers must unlock their device, choose a payment option, and then hold it up to the card reader in order to finish the transaction.
Digital wallets employ diverse technologies for transactions:
QR Codes
Users scan a code with their phone’s camera to make payments (e.g., PayPal).
NFC
Tapping a smartphone on a terminal for contactless payments (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay).
MST
Creates a magnetic signal, imitating a traditional card swipe (e.g., Samsung Pay).
UPI
Enables real-time bank transactions using two-click authentication (e.g., Google Pay, Amazon Pay).
The transaction data is then sent to payment processors and banks for closing.
Digital Wallet Market Size
The global mobile wallet market size was valued at USD 10.14 billion in 2024 and is projected to increase from USD 12.85 billion in 2025 to around USD 104.69 billion by 2034, increasing at a CAGR of 26.30% from 2025 to 2034.
Benefits of a Digital Wallet for Your Business
The creation of a digital wallet appears to be a potential niche, but you must initially ask, “Why?” A few of its key advantages are outlined below, which a founder can gain by setting up a digitalwallet.
It Provides Data Insights
Digital wallets offer businesses valuable data. And data currently is everything! It provides insights into customer expense habits, preferences, and behaviour, helping improve your business’s marketing strategies and understanding of your customers.
It Grows Customer Engagement and Loyalty
Digital wallets allow users to make transactions and payments effortlessly from anywhere at any time. This can maximize customer engagement and trustworthiness, along with helping businesses reach new customers who select to make payments digitally.
It Offers Higher Security
Digital wallets can offer enhanced security features, such as encryption and two-factor authentication, which can protect users’ sensitive financial information from theft and fraud.
It Saves Costs
Digital wallets can lessen transaction costs for businesses by excluding the requirement for physical cash or traditional payment means. Also it simplifies accounting and financial reporting processes, while reducing administrative costs.
It Attracts and Retains Customers
Digital wallets can be united with other services, including loyalty programs, e-commerce platforms or rewards systems, which can assist businesses in drawing and keeping customers.
6 Steps of How to Make a Digital Wallet
Here are the steps involved in the development of the digital wallet app.
1.Define Goals and Features
Begin by clearly defining the aim of your digital wallet, categorizing your target audience, and determining which features it will provide. For instance, will users be able to collect multiple currencies, make merchant payments, or send money to others? Considering these aspects helps guide throughout the development process.
2. Choose Platform and Technology
Select the platform (iOS, Android, or web) and the right technology stack for your digital wallet. Consider your target audience’s device likings when determining. You’ll also be required to select a programming language (e.g., Java, Python, Swift) and other tools to create a wallet.
3.Create User Interface
Create an intuitive, easy-to-navigate UI that enables users to offer fast access to their accounts, make payments, and transfer funds. A simple design with clear icons and buttons can improve the user experience, ensuring they rely on and like using the app.
Here are the examples of UI concepts for fintech apps:
4. Integrate Payment Gateways
Install payment gateways such as PayPal, Stripe, or Braintree to enable users to make payments via credit cards, debit cards, or bank accounts, ensuring the gateway is safe, as users will trust you with complex financial data.
5. Implement Security Measures
Prioritize security by executing two-factor authentication, biometric verification (fingerprint or facial recognition), and other processes to secure user data and avoid fraud. For Android, utilizing fingerprint authentication is safer than Face ID, which can be effortless to bypass.
6. Test and Launch
Methodically test your digital wallet to assess its functionality, safety vulnerabilities, usability, and performance. Once testing is done, launch the app. Address bugs and performance concerns in the early days after the launch and incessantly collect feedback to enhance and issue new updates.
Secure, Scalable Digital Wallets—Develop with Us!
Let's ConnectHow to Set Up a Secure Digital Wallet
The stress of security in the development of digital wallet apps can never be enough. Here are a few practical development tips to make a wallet secure.
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Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
MFA needs the user to offer two or more forms of authentication, including a password and a biometric identifier, such as a fingerprint, to access their account.
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Use End-To-End Encryption
End-to-end encryption makes sure that the data communicated between the user and the wallet is safe and cannot be interrupted by a third party.
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Store Complex Information Securely
Sensitive details, including user credentials and private keys, should be encrypted and kept in secure servers.
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Use Password Protection
Offer several codes that users should pass at various stages when employed with a digital wallet.
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Use Point-To-Point Encryption (P2pe)
It ensures end-to-end security and encrypts the entire transaction when an owner swipes the phone using a POS terminal.
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Implement Tokenization
A token is a blend of symbols that don’t cover financial details and are impractical for fraudsters. It enables the app to make e-wallet payments safe using data encryption and stores users’ data over the cloud.
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Use Account Blocking
When a user’s wallet exhibits questionable behaviour, the system has the authority to block the wallet. In addition, the wallet can be blocked by the owner over a message, phone call, or through another approach.
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Conduct Security Audits Frequently
Conducting frequent security audits can help recognize potential vulnerabilities and enable developers to address them before they become an issue.
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Use a Firewall
Firewalls can assist in preventing unauthorized access to the wallet, securing against malware and viruses, and blocking doubtful network traffic.
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Implement Transaction Limits
Set transaction limits to stop users from relocating too much money at once or too often, as it helps restrict the harm caused by a security breach.
3 Main Challenges of Developing a Digital Wallet
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Diverse compliance regulations
The central bank has strict regulations over money and finance. The majority of digital payment apps now have to abide by the GDPR and PSD2 SCA in Europe, as well as the AML, GLBA, and JOBS Act in the US.
The challenging aspect is that laws differ from one particular nation to another and occasionally even from one state to another. It’s essential to get acquainted with the laws and customs of your intended country and select a fintech app development company that has prior fintech experience.
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Fraud detection and Risk mitigation
Fraud is a huge issue in digital wallet app development, and it’s crucial to take steps to avoid it. Numerous people who are not aware of eWallets can easily be fooled, and digital wallet payment risk is linked to data theft, data leaks, malware attacks, hacking, and more. This risk is one of the key reasons why few people avoid using electronic wallets or abandon them. However, with advanced technologies and security hacks, developers can now lessen the most common app susceptibilities and hazards.
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Technological Challenges
Setting up a digital wallet app is a complex task that requires a lot of expertise. It’s significant to hire an experienced digital wallet app development company that has a knowledge of creating safe, fast, easy-to-use, and scalable wallets, ensuring that your project is positive, Companies like Progatix, a custom software and an app development company can guide you in building an effective digital wallet app that meets your business’ and users’ requirements.
Digital Wallets: What do we have now, and what can we expect in 10 years?
We are clear on the fact that Digital wallets or ewallets are mobile applications that enable users to store digital versions of their credit cards, debit cards, and other payment methods, allowing them to make purchases fast and effortlessly, whether online or in stores.
The digital wallet market will continue to develop at a quick pace. The increasing use of mobile devices for financial transactions and the development of new technologies, such as, blockchain, biometrics, and AI, is anticipated to push the adoption of digital wallets further and make them even more attractive to consumers.
How Progatix Can Help?
Custom software and app development company Progatix offers the development of cutting-edge digital wallet systems as well as secure, approachable solutions for managing transactions, storing payment methods, and supporting payments using fiat money and cryptocurrencies. Our vast experience enables businesses to provide their customers with effective digital payment experiences while ensuring smooth integration, strong security protocols, and adherence to industry standards.
Conclusion
Digital wallet app development is a complex process involving multiple processes, from ideation to finishing with a working application that has real customers. The constantly shifting trends in today’s market indicate that mobile wallet usage is steadily increasing, providing an excellent opportunity to change your inventive ideas into a reality and achieve key company goals. It’s a smart idea to seize the opportunity and introduce digital wallet services to fulfil the growing need for practical fintech solutions and improve overall customer satisfaction.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance with digital wallet services or if you have a project in mind. Our goal is to help you in recognizing your vision.