The UK payments sector is evolving quickly, driven by new regulation, changing consumer behaviour and advances in technology. Over the next year, merchants will face growing adoption of open banking, instant payments and mobile wallets, alongside greater scrutiny of buy now, pay later (BNPL) and new standards such as PSD3. Balancing customer choice, security, and compliance will be critical. This report outlines ten key trends that will shape how merchants accept and manage payments in the coming 12 months.