Runa identified universal payout links, expanded prepaid use and fraud controls as three developments to watch in 2026, in an outlook published on January 7. The company based its predictions on its payout operations, customer discussions and its assessment of changes in payment technology.

The first proposal was a single link through which a recipient could choose among available gift cards, prepaid cards and direct-to-card payments. Runa described this as a direction for programme design, allowing a sender to manage several payout methods through one recipient journey.

Its example used a hypothetical $100 payout that could be taken as card value or increased to a $105 merchant gift card. The amounts illustrated how a programme might use a bonus to encourage one option; they were not a new public offer or a guaranteed Runa rate.

The second prediction concerned prepaid cards becoming a more regular part of payout programmes. Runa described one-time and reloadable configurations for uses such as rewards, benefits and recurring disbursements, with digital delivery and mobile-wallet compatibility.

The article cited an estimated global prepaid card market of $2.2 trillion in 2024 and a projection of $4.1 trillion by 2030. The latter was a forecast referenced in Runa’s January 2026 outlook, rather than a realised market total.

For fraud, the company argued that instant payout systems need a coordinated view of unusual behaviour across devices, markets and payment methods. It proposed shared detection information and review processes that distinguish suspicious activity from legitimate recipients needing help.

Runa’s outlook called on programme operators to examine where payment choice, integration and risk controls fit together. It described expected industry directions and the company’s strategy, rather than announcing that every proposed capability had already launched.