According to the 11th annual e-Conomy SEA report by Google, Temasek Holdings, and Bain & Company, the digital gross merchandise value (GMV) in Southeast Asia is projected to reach $368 billion in 2026. This figure represents a 17% year-over-year increase across the 10 countries covered in the study.
E-commerce remains a primary driver, with a projected GMV of $226 billion, marking an 18% growth. Meanwhile, the gross transaction value for digital financial services is estimated at $1.65 trillion, a 16% rise. AI adoption is currently occurring four times faster than the initial adoption of mobile internet in the region.
The report notes that 243 million people, or 58% of the regional workforce, have adopted these digital services. Current per-capita usage is estimated at 5 to 7 quadrillion tokens, which is approximately 10% of the levels observed in the United States. Analysts project this usage could increase by up to 60 times by 2030.
Private tech funding in the region reached $21 billion in the first half of 2026, surpassing the $11 billion total recorded for the entire year of 2025. This growth is linked to significant data-center investments and increased consumer confidence in AI technologies.
Infrastructure expansion is also evident, as data-center capacity grew to 5.8 gigawatts by mid-2026, compared to 4 gigawatts in 2025. The report highlights that AI is enabling businesses to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer targeting.
