Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent has partnered with Visa to expand its palm recognition technology for digital payments, starting in Singapore.
As part of this collaboration, Visa cardholders from participating Singaporean banks, including DBS, OCBC, and UOB, will participate in a pilot program. Participants will undergo a one-time enrollment process at the merchant point of sale, where they will tap their Visa card, scan their palm, and complete authentication.
Once enrolled, a Visa payment token will be linked to their palm biometric template, enabling them to make future payments at participating merchants by simply waving their palm—no cards or phones needed.
Emphasizing security, Tencent has stated that it employs a two-step verification process that checks both palm prints and the unique patterns of veins beneath the skin. Additionally, user data is encrypted for secure storage, rendering it irreversible to prevent decryption, theft, or unauthorized use by third parties.
Adeline Kim, Visa’s country manager for Singapore and Brunei, noted that “based on our biometrics study, close to seven in 10 Singapore consumers see this as a secure way to pay. Our aim is to enhance the payment experience and ensure that our customers can enjoy seamless transactions with the highest level of security.”