Electronic funds transfers in Chile grew 15%, according to the Banco Central de Chile's August 2026 Payment Systems Report. The report found that use of electronic transfers as payment at merchants is still limited.
The 2026 report is the fifth edition of the central bank's Informe de Sistemas de Pago. The number of digital payments in Chile rose 15% from the previous report. People in Chile aged over 15 made an average of 435 digital payments a year, according to the report.
Banco Central de Chile president Rosanna Costa said the bank will put out for consultation a regulation to strengthen the immediate payments system and facilitate the use of electronic transfers at merchants. Costa said the bank expects to publish a first regulatory proposal for stablecoins usable as means of payment towards the end of 2026. A rule aimed at merchant acceptance would likely target TEF's weakest use case rather than its overall volumes, which are already growing.