Breaking Barriers in Digital Payment Systems: A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis of Global Trends, Gaps, and Future Directions

ABSTRACT Over the past Twenty Years, digital payment systems (DPS) have evolved significantly, transitioning from early e-payment infrastructures to AI-driven, blockchain-integrated ecosystems shaped by technological innovation, regulatory frameworks, and socio-economic drivers. This study analyzes 871 Scopus-indexed articles using bibliometric and thematic methods to map how DPS research priorities have progressed across regions and themes. Leading contributors include institutions such as Bina Nusantara University and Wuhan University of Technology, with China, India, and the USA dominating scholarship due to large-scale fintech ecosystems and proactive regulatory initiatives, while Africa and South America remain underrepresented owing to structural and policy barriers. Key themes include security, fintech adoption, financial inclusion, and regulatory harmonization, yet gaps persist in standardization and interdisciplinary approaches. Using SPAR-4, TCCM, and ADO frameworks, the study highlights the need for comparative policy research and empirically grounded studies on blockchain, AI, and regulatory convergence. By moving beyond descriptive bibliometric mapping to interpretive insights, the study provides a roadmap for policymakers, researchers, librarians, publishers, and fintech innovators to strengthen secure, efficient, and inclusive DPS ecosystems aligned with global economic and social development.