Mexico pushes digital payments law, Digital CURP

Update September 18, 2026: The bill added details on the continued use of cash for small purchases and on the Treasury’s operational role in defining sectors where only electronic payments would be accepted. The statement of reasons cites changes between 2021 and 2024, and new reporting breaks down the scope of Article 13.

President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced the Digital Economy for Digital and Electronic Payments bill in the Chamber of Deputies as part of the reforms tied to the 2027 Economic Package. The proposal seeks to gradually reduce Mexico’s dependence on cash. It also authorizes the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit to define sectors where digital payments would be the only permitted form of payment, and it adds Digital CURP as an identification mechanism for financial contracting.

What does the bill propose on cash use?

The proposal would let the Ministry of Finance determine, by sector or economic activity, where digital and electronic payments would be mandatory. According to the reports cited in economic coverage, Treasury would have 15 business days to issue its first determination once the law takes effect.

That authority does not amount to a general ban on cash. El Imparcial noted that, as of publication, no business is required to stop accepting cash and there is no official list of affected activities, because the bill is still moving through Congress.

Private analyses also point to a significant shift in digital financial contracting. Mijares Abogados and other business outlets said the reform would expand user identification requirements and payment infrastructure adjustments, but would not immediately eliminate cash.

The statement of reasons cited by White & Case adds that between 2021 and 2024, frequent cash use for purchases of 500 pesos or less fell from 90.1% to 85.2%, while electronic transfers and mobile apps rose from 1.6% to 4.4%.

Later reporting said Article 13 assigns the Ministry of Finance the task of defining the strategic sectors and relevant activities where only electronic payments will be accepted. That breakdown narrows the cash restriction mechanism and leaves the choice of affected sectors to that agency.

How does user identification change for financial services?

The bill incorporates Digital CURP as a reliable identification mechanism for digital contracting of financial services. According to Radio Fórmula, users may choose between Digital CURP and other official forms of identification when dealing with financial institutions.

White & Case said in its review of the draft that the bill refers to consent and personal data protection law, but does not directly regulate access, purpose limitation, or data retention. That leaves compliance obligations for identification and data processing, without creating a full privacy framework.

What political and economic reach does the project have?

The bill was formally introduced by the federal executive branch on September 8, 2026, and sent by Sheinbaum as one of three proposals filed in the Chamber of Deputies. Quadratín, El Financiero and Record confirmed that the file is already in the legislative record.

International coverage also placed the reform within a strategy to gradually reduce cash dependence and speed up digital payments. Breaking Belize News and The Rio Times said the stated goal is to build a specific regulatory framework with implications for financial inclusion and for the obligations of financial service providers and merchants.

The figures cited in economic analyses help show the scale of the proposal. Mexico Business News reported that digital payments account for about 18% of transactions in Mexico, while cash is used in as many as 95% of purchases under 500 pesos. In that context, the law aims to reshape financial contracting and open the door to cashless scenarios by sector under regulation.

What other proposals moved in Mexico on data and cybersecurity?

In the same period, other legislative proposals were introduced on personal data, digital fraud and online violence. In Sonora, a reform was promoted to reinforce that data processing must be based on free, specific and informed consent. At the federal level, Humberto Ambriz Delgadillo pushed changes to the Penal Code to toughen penalties for the sale and disclosure of information obtained through unlawful access to systems.

Another bill, introduced by Ana González González, would require permanent prevention campaigns, digital literacy and data protection measures against digital violence targeting women. Also filed was Olga Sosa Ruiz’s proposal to authenticate caller ID for voice calls and create a registry of phone numbers used by financial institutions, with the goal of combating fraud and impersonation.

The regulatory agenda around digital platforms followed the same tightening trend. National coverage mentioned other state proposals to restrict minors’ access to social networks and require stronger age-verification tools, alongside the federal debate on digital payments and identity.

Is Mexico going cashless in 2027?

Yes, the bill sent by Claudia Sheinbaum aims to gradually reduce cash use and enable sectors where only electronic payments will be accepted. It does not call for a general cash ban across the country.

Presented as part of the 2027 Economic Package, the project gives the Ministry of Finance the power to define, by sector or activity, where digital payments would be mandatory. According to the coverage cited in the article, Treasury would have 15 business days to issue its first determination once the law takes effect.

At the same time, the report makes clear that the bill is still under legislative review and there is no official list yet of affected activities. The change is therefore not an immediate end to cash, but a regulated and gradual expansion of digital payments.