Adoption of Mobile Wallets and Sustainable Digital Financial Services: A Bibliometric Analysis of User Behavior and Performance Factors

Abstract

Mobile wallets have emerged as a key form of digital financial service innovation, supporting cashless transactions, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic development, particularly in developing economies. Despite their rapid diffusion, user adoption and long-term performance remain uneven, raising questions about the behavioral and service-related factors that influence sustained use. This  study provides a bibliometric analysis of global research on mobile wallet adoption, focusing on user behavior and performance determinants. Using 522 publications indexed in Dimensions and Google Scholar between 2010 and 2023, the study applies bibliometric techniques—including citation analysis, co-citation analysis, keyword frequency analysis, and collaboration network mapping—to identify dominant research themes and emerging trends. The findings indicate that trust, security, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness remain the most influential factors shaping mobile wallet adoption, largely reflecting the Technology Acceptance Model and its extensions. However, the results also reveal a declining annual growth rate of publications (–10.17%), suggesting a need to explore new research directions. Emerging themes related to digital transformation, socioeconomic factors, and financial inclusion highlight opportunities to link mobile wallet adoption more closely with sustainable service development. The study offers insights for service providers, policymakers, and researchers by demonstrating how secure system design, user-centric service innovation, and supportive regulatory frameworks can strengthen public trust and promote sustainable adoption of mobile wallets, particularly in urban contexts such as Kathmandu and across developing economies.