EBANX has just put out some impressive numbers that highlight how transformative Network Tokens (NTs) can be for digital payments in emerging markets. According to the company’s controlled tests with major global merchants across Latin America, NTs reduced credit card declines tied to fraud and security by up to 86%. In specific scenarios, such as when cards were temporarily blocked, the improvement climbed even higher, reaching 91%. That’s not a minor tweak in efficiency—it’s a serious leap in how payment rails can be secured and streamlined.
The mechanics are simple but powerful. Network Tokens replace the sensitive Primary Account Number (PAN) with a secure, dynamic substitute called a DPAN. This token ensures the actual card number never passes through the system in its raw form. What EBANX did differently was measure results through a rigorous A/B testing model: eligible cards were provisioned with tokens, and then half the transactions ran with NT while the other half ran without. The contrast made the benefits hard to ignore. Beyond the drop in fraud-related declines, EBANX reported approval rate increases of up to 7 percentage points. For subscription-based businesses—where outdated cards are often the Achilles’ heel—the improvements were between 4 and 5 points, thanks to automatic updates that keep payments flowing even if a customer’s card is replaced.
Eduardo de Abreu, VP of Product at EBANX, emphasized that NTs aren’t just about security but about experience: “Network Tokens offer end-to-end encryption and automatic updates for expired or replaced cards. This is particularly valuable for recurring payments, where frictionless is essential.” Anyone who has had their Netflix subscription suddenly drop because their bank mailed a new card knows how important this small but seamless fix can be. On the backend, NTs also help issuers, acquirers, and networks talk to each other more smoothly, accelerating transaction speed while reducing costly declines.
EBANX isn’t working in isolation either. It has coupled its proprietary tokenization with NTs issued by heavyweights like Visa and Mastercard, giving it a strong position in bridging global networks with local markets. Still, as Abreu notes, the road to adoption is not frictionless. Issuers, acquirers, and merchants must invest in system adaptations before NTs can scale to full potential. For now, though, the evidence suggests that NTs are shaping up to be more than a niche technical fix—they could soon become a fundamental pillar of digital payments in Latin America, delivering both better security and smoother customer experiences. That dual promise—protection plus performance—is likely what will drive adoption forward, even if it takes time for the ecosystem to fully catch up.