Mexico's Digital Economy Law for Digital and Electronic Payments, promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has been approved by both chambers of Congress and awaits publication in the Official Gazette (DOF). The Senate approved it on October 20, 2026, by 73 votes to 34 in general terms, and sent it to the Executive, El Economista reported.
The law does not abolish cash, but it requires businesses to offer electronic payment methods and empowers the Finance Ministry (SHCP) to define sectors where digital payments could be the only accepted form. This week, the gas station association Onexpo met with the government to negotiate a gradual rollout at service stations, according to Surtidores.
What the Digital Economy Law is
The law creates a legal framework so that cards, transfers, QR codes, NFC technology and other tools are used in daily life. According to the bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the summary by Alto Nivel, these are its main points:
| Topic | What the law establishes |
|---|---|
| Businesses | Providers of goods and services must set up infrastructure to receive electronic payments, state which ones they accept and take measures in case of failures |
| Government | Federal, state and municipal authorities must accept electronic payments for procedures and services |
| Finance Ministry (article 13) | May determine strategic sectors or activities where digital means are the only form of payment |
| Identity | The digital CURP will be valid for remotely contracting financial services, and a Digital Citizen File is created |
| Contingencies | If a technical, power or connectivity failure prevents digital collection, cash or checks may be accepted temporarily |
How the Digital Economy Law was approved
| Stage | Date | Vote | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber of Deputies | October 6, 2026 | 327 in favor and 122 against (in particular) | El Economista |
| Senate, in general | October 20, 2026 | 73 in favor and 34 against | El Economista |
| Senate, in particular | October 20, 2026 | 72 in favor, 37 against and 0 abstentions | El Economista |
| Publication in the DOF | Pending | Not published as of October 28, according to Expansión | Expansión |
PAN, PRI and Movimiento Ciudadano voted against. There was also one vote against from Morena, by Senator Ricardo Sheffield, according to Alto Nivel. In the Senate, the chair of the Economy Committee, Emmanuel Reyes Carmona (Morena), argued that Mexico has the infrastructure—SPEI, CoDi and DiMo—and that more than 7.3 billion SPEI transfers were made in 2025, according to Bank of Mexico data.
Does cash disappear in Mexico with the Digital Economy Law?
Not across the board. Once the law takes effect, the Finance Ministry will have 15 business days to determine the strategic sectors where only digital payment could be required, and authorities will then have another 15 business days to issue the rules and transition mechanisms, Alto Nivel explained. Until those rules exist, there is no date on which stores, markets or taxis stop accepting banknotes.
The first candidates are already known: José Antonio Peña Merino, head of the Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency, has said gas stations and highways would be the first areas of application, and President Sheinbaum has said the goal is to gradually reduce the use of physical money without eliminating it, according to Surtidores. Onexpo is asking for a gradual digitalization of stations and for consumers not to be banned from using cash.
85.2%
Use cash for purchases up to 500 pesos
of the adult population
73.5%
Use cash for purchases over 500 pesos
of the adult population
19%
Pay by card for purchases over 500 pesos
vs. 7.6% by transfer or apps
Source: INEGI and CNBV, ENIF 2024, cited by Alto Nivel and Expansión.
View the data as a table
| Use cash for purchases up to 500 pesos | 85.2% · of the adult population |
| Use cash for purchases over 500 pesos | 73.5% · of the adult population |
| Pay by card for purchases over 500 pesos | 19% · vs. 7.6% by transfer or apps |
| Most frequent payment method | Purchases of 500 pesos or less | Purchases over 500 pesos |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 85.2% | 73.5% |
| Cards | — | 19% |
| Transfers or mobile apps | — | 7.6% |
| Cash in rural areas (small purchases) | 94% | — |
| Cash in urban areas (small purchases) | 81% | — |
Source: 2024 National Financial Inclusion Survey by INEGI and CNBV, as cited by Alto Nivel. Banamex warned in its October 27 report that restricting cash without solving connectivity and access to bank accounts could exclude part of the population, Expansión reported.
Criticism and a possible legal battle
The opposition objected that the costs of terminals, internet and fees will fall on micro and small businesses. "The terminal isn't paid for with speeches," Deputy Verónica Pérez (PAN) said in the debate, according to El Economista. The PRI warned that the law does not address the prevention of digital fraud.
The most debated point is article 13. The law firm Uruchurtu y Snipeliski told Expansión that the law does not define what a "strategic sector" is or set amounts or criteria, leaving the decision to the Finance Ministry's discretion, and compared it with the Anti-Money Laundering Law, which does list the activities and amounts for which cash cannot be used. Constitutional scholar Juvenal Lobato Díaz (UNAM) said there are grounds to argue unconstitutionality and that the issue could reach the Supreme Court through amparo lawsuits, although he considers a ruling against the law unlikely.
For household budgets, the context is still one of price pressure: Mexico's inflation rose to 3.62% in the first half of October, and Buen Fin 2026 again rewards card payments with the SAT raffle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Digital Economy Law?
It is the Digital Economy Law for Digital and Electronic Payments, proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum and approved by Congress in October 2026. It requires businesses and governments to accept electronic payments and lets the Finance Ministry define digital-only payment sectors.
Is the Digital Economy Law already in force?
As of October 28 it had not been published in the Official Gazette, according to Expansión. It takes effect as set out in the decree once published.
Is paying cash banned in Mexico?
Not in general. The Finance Ministry may define sectors where only digital payments are accepted; the first ones mentioned by the government are gas stations and highways.
What happens if the terminal or the internet fails?
The law allows cash or checks to be accepted temporarily when a technical, power or connectivity contingency prevents digital payment.
