ewallet

An electronic wallet, or ewallet, is a digital tool that securely stores payment credentials and related information for making electronic transactions. It can be implemented as software on a mobile device or computer, or as a specialized hardware device in the case of cryptocurrency wallets. A typical ewallet can hold card numbers, bank account details, loyalty cards, and tickets, and supports online purchases, in-store payments via contactless interfaces, and peer-to-peer transfers. Many wallets use tokenization to substitute sensitive data with a harmless token.

Common forms include mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, online wallets such as PayPal, and fintech apps that manage payments and funds. Crypto-related wallets store private keys and enable interaction with blockchain networks; these come in hot (online) and cold (offline) forms. Wallets may offer additional features such as loyalty integration, budgeting tools, or integrated merchant offers, and often rely on card networks or payment processors to complete transactions.

Security is central, with measures including encryption, tokenization, biometrics, and PINs, along with device-level protections. Users should be aware of phishing and malware risks, and providers may be subject to regulatory requirements such as PCI-DSS, PSD2, and data protection laws. Adoption aims to simplify payments, increase speed, and improve security relative to storing physical cards, though it introduces new privacy considerations and reliance on digital infrastructure.