Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) continues to experience significant growth in Italy. According to the latest CRIF data, the sector recorded a +49.8% increase compared to 2024, confirming its position as an increasingly popular solution among consumers, particularly younger generations, also as an alternative to traditional small consumer loans.
The spread of BNPL has been driven by ease of access, the speed of digital processes and the possibility of deferring payments immediately. However, this form of financing still benefits from a partially simplified regulatory regime compared to other forms of consumer credit.
The regulatory landscape is set to change with the introduction of the new Consumer Credit Directive II, expected in November 2026. The European directive will bring most BNPL transactions within the scope of consumer credit regulation, introducing stricter requirements regarding pre-contractual and contractual transparency, as well as more rigorous creditworthiness assessments.
The Bank of Italy has also recently addressed the issue, drawing operators’ attention to the upcoming regulatory changes. As highlighted by Angelo Messore in an interview with La Stampa: “It is reasonable to expect that, in this context, the Bank of Italy will begin exercising its supervisory powers more incisively, carrying out more detailed checks on operators’ compliance with the applicable regulations.”
The evolving regulatory framework therefore represents a crucial turning point for the BNPL sector, likely to impact both fintech operators’ business models and consumer protection mechanisms within a rapidly expanding market.
