From Digital Wallets to Sustainable Choices: Understanding Consumer Behavior in the Cashless Economy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68337/cpsm.v1.i2.2026-037Keywords:
Green consumer behavior, FinTech adoption, mobile payments, pro-environmental consumption, sustainable financeAbstract
The rise of digital wallets and cashless systems has rapidly changed how consumers manage their finances, and interest is growing in the capacity of these systems to offer sustainable solutions. This research examines whether cashless systems mediate the relationship between the innovative value of technology (IVT) and environmentally responsible consumer behavior (ERCB). The value-action gap model, together with technology adoption frameworks drawn from big data analytics, was used to design primary data collection through structured questionnaires administered to digital wallet users. The data were analyzed in JASP with reliability tests, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. IVT was positively related to both cashless system use and ERCB. Cashless systems did not, however, mediate the relationship between IVT and ERCB. The findings suggest that payment systems alone will not close the gap between concern for the environment and actual behavior. The study offers theoretical insights and practical implications for sustainability-oriented policymakers, financial technology (fintech) designers and developers, and sustainability advocates.
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The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Conference Proceedings Volume
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