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ProductsWe consistently create value for global customers, by focusing on theirs needs and providing them with competitive intelligent terminals and solutions.
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About UsWe consistently create value for global customers, by focusing on theirs needs and providing them with competitive intelligent terminals and solutions.
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Case Study
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Why Cash Hasn't Disappeared: Global Payment Trends 2026
Jun 18,2026
Cashless payments are on the rise—but has cash disappeared? Walk into a convenience store in Manila or a neighborhood supermarket in São Paulo, and the cash drawer beside the register is still busy opening and closing.
Cash hasn't disappeared. It's simply transforming.
As a POS hardware manufacturer serving 90+ countries, MAKEN has witnessed the surge of digital payments—and the irreplaceable resilience of cash in the era of mixed payments.
I. Cash Remains "Half the Kingdom"
Visa's 2026 forecast states: Global cash stock stands at approximately $11 trillion, and cash won't disappear anytime soon. Wharton research shows that over a billion people worldwide lack bank accounts—cash is their only payment option.
In emerging markets, cash is essential infrastructure:
India: Digital payments grow at 61% CAGR, yet 70–80% of transactions are still cash
Southeast Asia: Credit card penetration is just 30% in Thailand, 6% in Indonesia
Latin America: Cash share dropped from 38% (2020) to 25% (2024), but absolute volume remains massive
Africa: Cash remains the dominant transaction medium
II. Mixed Payment Era: The Cash Drawer as New Infrastructure
The modern checkout is no longer "cash vs. digital." The reality: young customers scan QR codes, elderly customers hand over bills, tourists swipe cards, and when systems fail—everyone pays cash.
Malaysian POS guidelines put it clearly: The question isn't "do you need a cash drawer?" but "how do you configure mixed payments?" Street vendors, mom-and-pop shops, wet markets—these scenarios still run most efficiently on cash.
Market data confirms the trend: Global cash drawer market: $1.77B (2021) → $3.74B (2033), CAGR 6.42%
Electronic cash register hardware (including drawers) holds 60.4% market share
| Industry Myth | Reality |
| Cash is dying | $11 trillion global stock; still a major payment method |
| Emerging markets will skip cash | 70–80% of Indian payments remain cash |
| Developed markets are fully cashless | UK ATM withdrawals rose for 4 consecutive years |
| Cash drawers are obsolete | Global market CAGR 6.42%; APAC growing fastest |
| Small merchants don't need drawers | Informal retail and street vendors still rely on cash |
In 2026, digital payments grow, cash transforms, and mixed payments become the new normal. For retailers, the question is no longer "whether to accept cash" but "how to manage it efficiently." The cash drawer is not a relic of the past—it's a necessity of the present.
Since our founding in 2006, MAKEN has remained dedicated to designing and manufacturing cash drawers and POS hardware. We believe: As long as cash circulates, cash drawers have value.
About MAKEN
Founded in 2006, MAKEN holds 100+ patents with an independent R&D center and highly automated production lines. We specialize in cash drawers, POS stands, and self-service terminals, providing ODM/OEM services to clients worldwide across 90+ countries and regions.
（Data sources: Visa, OMFIF, Wharton School, Cognitive Market Research, UK Payments Association, and other authoritative institutions.）
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