The adoption of SEPA Instant is redefining Europe’s payments infrastructure. With more than 2,300 banks and PSPs across the EU and EEA already connected, SEPA Instant allows for 10-second settlements on payments up to €100,000, 24/7. As of 2024, over 14 billion real-time transactions are processed annually across the Eurozone, led by Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The shift from batch to real-time clearing has reduced interbank liquidity costs by up to 40%, while enhancing user satisfaction and merchant retention for fintechs and neobanks.

‍

Interoperability remains the biggest opportunity and hurdle. Cross-border instant payments currently account for less than 5% of volume, largely due to differences in scheme compliance, fraud controls, and data standards. However, the EU’s new Instant Payments Regulation (2024) mandates universal SEPA Instant accessibility and fee parity by 2025, unlocking a projected €7 billion in annual cost savings for businesses and governments. Meanwhile, B2B use cases are gaining traction with 28% YoY growth in treasury and invoice payments routed through instant rails.

‍

Real-time payments are no longer a back-end innovation; they’re a profit lever. Monetization strategies like request-to-pay, liquidity-as-a-service, and data monetization are being built into the core of new revenue models across European PSPs.

‍

5 Key Takeaways:
‍

• €100,000 max per SEPA Instant transaction, settled in 10 seconds
• 2,300+ banks/PSPs connected across Europe
• 14B+ transactions/year as of 2024
• 40% reduction in liquidity costs vs batch settlements
• €7B cost savings projected under 2024 regulation

‍

Download the full report to explore monetization playbooks, readiness checklists, and the competitive outlook for SEPA-native fintechs in the next five years.

‍

• Request a Customized Transcript: Submit your own questions or specify changes. We’ll conduct a new call with the industry expert, covering both the original and your additional questions. You’ll receive an updated report for a small fee over the standard price.
• Request a Direct Call with the Expert: If you prefer a live conversation, we can facilitate a call between you and the expert. After the call, you’ll get the full recording, a verbatim transcript, and continued platform access to query the content and more.

‍