Article
Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend 2025: Three learnings from the world’s biggest shopping weekend
Adyen processed $43 billion during BFCM 2025. Here’s what retailers can take away to prepare for 2026.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday isn’t just a sales spike, it’s the most important moment of the year for retailers. It’s a chance to drive revenue while putting operations, technology, and customer experience to the test under the highest stakes.
Those who capture this opportunity don’t just drive revenue, they strengthen their brand and earn lasting customer loyalty.
This year, Adyen processed $43 billion in payments, a 27% increase from last year, handling up to 199,000 transactions per minute without disruption.
In a weekend defined by heavy demand, the retailers who came out on top were the ones whose payment infrastructure stayed stable when it mattered most.
By analyzing data from our platform, we’ve collected the most important insights to help you set yourself up for success in 2026.
1. Shoppers want fast, convenient payments
Shoppers expect speed and convenience, especially during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, when they’re racing between stores to catch the best deals. Over the weekend, Adyen processed over 127M in-person payment transactions, revealing in store trends for both stores and shoppers alike.
Tapping is now the norm globally, and contactless payments, which became the predominant payment method in the US during BFCM 2024 on Adyen’s platform for the first year ever, have now firmly established themselves. Offering wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay make it easy to meet that expectation and capture more sales.
During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, our platform saw mobile wallet usage surge by 31% YoY in the U.S., while globally, 85% of in-store payments were contactless, highlighting a strong consumer preference for fast, convenient experiences.
Mobile terminal transactions continue to grow, particularly helpful at peak moments, with TaptoPay volumes increasing, indicating that merchants that used it last year have increased their usage. Businesses already offering it saw an additional 227% increase this year.
2. US shoppers spend more in store
As shoppers around the world hunted for BFCM deals, the way they chose to pay continued to evolve. In the US, alternative payment options accelerated rapidly, with local payment methods (LPM) volume climbing 87% YoY, highlighting a clear shift in consumer preference beyond traditional cards.
US shoppers are using more ways to pay than ever before. LPMs and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options are growing fast, and retailers that offer these choices make it easier for customers to complete their purchases. Giving shoppers the payment options they prefer can help increase sales and keep customers coming back.
In stores, the strength of physical retail remained evident. US in-store average transaction value (ATV) came in 46% higher than online, despite digital traffic surging throughout the long weekend. Midday remained the peak moment for spending, showing that shoppers still prefer in-store shopping during major retail events.
3. Flexibility drives spending
In a tighter economic climate, shoppers didn’t stop spending, they adjusted how they paid to make their budgets go further.
During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Adyen’s platform saw BNPL online volume rise 43% compared to the previous month, reflecting growing consumer demand for flexible payment options. BNPL volume increased 37% YoY in the US and 20% in Australia, while in Sweden it now accounts for 9% of all weekend spending, showing that flexible payments are becoming a standard part of the shopping experience.
Across the four day global weekend, Adyen’s platform recognized 95% of shoppers, which made it easier for retailers to offer faster and more personalized checkout experiences. By knowing who their shoppers are, retailers can offer the right payment options, reduce friction, and boost conversion. This approach helps meet customer expectations and capture more value during peak shopping periods.
Set your strategy for 2026
The trends we saw during BFCM 2025 aren’t temporary spikes, they’re a clear signal of what shoppers will expect every day in 2026. Reliability, speed, and flexibility are no longer advantages, they’re the baseline for staying competitive.
Now is the time to get ready. Make sure your systems can handle busy periods, offer fast and flexible payments, and track customer preferences across all channels. Retailers who plan ahead will be in a stronger position to improve checkouts, increase sales, and better understand their customers in the coming year.