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Abstract

The rapid expansion of digital payment systems has transformed financial transactions in the Philippines, with mobile wallet platforms becoming central to everyday economic activities. This study examines the market dominance of GCash within the Philippine digital payment ecosystem using a secondary data analysis approach. Data were synthesized from official statistics, industry reports, and fintech market analyses to examine trends in digital payment adoption, mobile wallet usage, merchant integration, and market growth. Findings indicate an increase in digital payment adoption, with the share of digital retail payments rising from approximately 1% in 2013 to 57.4% in 2024. Concurrently, GCash experienced user expansion, growing from 20 million registered users in 2019 to more than 81 million in 2023, alongside a merchant network exceeding 2.5 million partners nationwide. Comparative analysis also shows that GCash maintains the most comprehensive service ecosystem among Philippine e-wallet platforms, contributing to its widespread adoption among consumers and small businesses. The results suggest that platform accessibility, trust, convenience, and network effects contribute to the platform’s dominant position. This study provides empirical insight into the structural and behavioral factors shaping digital payment adoption in the Philippines and highlights the role of fintech platforms in supporting the country’s expanding digital economy.

Replication Package for published paper

Paper: The Impact of Electronic Benefit Transfer on Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Journal: Agricultural Economics

Authors: Pei Zhou ([email protected]); Yuqing Zheng; Harry M. Kaiser; Miguel I. Gómez; Lingxiao Wang; Diansheng Dong

Publication Year: 2026