<div>
 <ul>
 <li>
 
 Wink, a biometric e-commerce login and payments solutions provider, has raised USD 3 million in seed funds led by Cerracap Ventures, with participation from Flying Point Industries and several family offices. This round brings Wink&rsquo;s total funding to USD 5.9 million.
 
 </li>
 <li>
 
 The funding comes less than a year after Wink 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/10289">
 raised USD 2.85 million in pre-seed
 </a>
 funds in May, also co-led by Cerracap. The funds will help Wink commercialize its platform across several use cases, including e-commerce, connected cars, and smart homes.
 
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
</div>

<div>
 
 <a href="https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/614581075/wink-expands-seed-round-with-additional-3m-in-new-funding#:~:text=PLANO%2C%20Texas%2C%20Feb.,seed%20round%20in%202021%2D22.">
 Press Release
 </a>
 
 
 <a href="https://vcnewsdaily.com/wink/venture-capital-funding/fqxlzptcpk">
 VC News Daily
 </a>
 
 
 
</div>

Biometric Payments

Wink raises USD 3 million in seed funding

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 
 The fingerprint sensor manufacturer, IDEX Biometrics, has formed a partnership with South Korean smart card manufacturer, Cellfie Global, with the aim of developing biometric payment cards.
 This agreement for commercial development purports the designing, manufacturing, and marketing of the aforementioned biometric payment cards for banks, as well as FinTech organisations. This venture will take advantage of the metal card technology that Cellfie Global provides.
 Given their significant presence in both, the US and Europe, which accounts for 78% of their annual metal card shipments, Cellfie Global is a strong ally in this partnership. Notably, their US company, ICK International, is expected to incorporate the technology provided by IDEX Biometrics into their product range of metal and PVC cards.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake : 
 IDEX has entered several partnerships this year to develop and deploy biometric payment cards. This includes <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/32663"> TaluCard </a> (Europe), an <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/29261"> unnamed South Asian </a> smart card manufacturer, and <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/28175"> Mutual Trust </a> (Bangladesh). Meanwhile, in February, the company also expanded its partnership with Korea-based smartcard manufacturer KONA I to launch biometric payment cards in <a href="https: 
//www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/02/08/2825782/0/en/KONA-I-to-introduce-biometric-smart-cards-with-IDEX-Biometrics-in-Japan.html"> Japan </a> (four months after <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/23152"> initially partnering </a> with KONA I to launch biometric payment cards across the globe).

IDEX Biometrics partners with Cellfie Global to offer biometric metal and PVC cards

INCUMBENTS_PRESENT

<div>
 Mastercard is collaborating with Tap Payments to enlarge its payment passkey services in the UAE and intends to extend this service to other markets in the Middle East and Africa. Tap Payments is an online payment system provider.
 The payment passkey from Mastercard offers users the convenience of authenticating payments through facial scans or fingerprints (used for unlocking their phones) and data tokenization, rather than one-time passwords (OTPs). This feature enables users to carry out transactions without the necessity of creating merchant accounts or retaining payment information.
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Last week, <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/35749"> Mastercard </a> and <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/35801"> Visa </a> expanded their passkey services in the Asia-Pacific region by showcasing them at the Singapore FinTech Festival. Notably, this partnership came less than three months after Mastercard launched its passkey solution globally by <a href="https: 
//www.mastercard.com/news/press/2024/august/mastercard-selects-india-for-the-global-launch-of-its-payment-passkey-service-accelerating-secure-online-checkout-for-millions-of-shoppers/"> debuting it in India </a> , indicating the company’s commitment to expanding the global reach of passkeys.

Mastercard partners with Tap Payments to offer passkey payments in UAE

<div>
 
 At the Singapore FinTech Festival, Visa unveiled the Visa Payment Passkey service, a move designed to augment online transactions throughout the Asia Pacific region.
 The new service, which adheres to the latest FIDO standards, enables users to verify online payments via biometric methods such as facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, as long as these methods are utilized to unlock their mobile devices. Such authentication tools present on their devices are used in place of regular passwords or temporary authorization codes, ultimately leading to a safer and more streamlined payment procedure.
 The introduction of this new service is expected to augment payment experiences by offering superior security, increased flexibility, and improved transaction efficacy.

</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 &nbsp; Visa's peer Mastercard also engaged in a similar development by showcasing its Payment Passkey service at the same FinTech Festival in order to expand in the Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, this expansion to the Asia Pacific region indicates Visa’s plans to expand in the mobile biometric authentication solutions space after launching its Payment Passkey Service <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/29541"> earlier this year </a> .

Visa expands payment passkey service in Asia Pacific

<div>
 
 Mastercard has unveiled its payment passkey service at the Singapore FinTech Festival for online transactions in the Asia-Pacific region. This comes after the initial launch of this service to Indian users three months back.
 The service enables users to authenticate payments via facial scans or fingerprints (depending on what they use to unlock their phones) instead of one-time passwords (OTPs). It incorporates a click-to-pay feature for guest checkouts, promoting cross-device and cross-browser compatibility, and tokenization to secure payment credentials and biometric data.
 With this new service, transaction efficiency should be enhanced, courtesy of quicker checkouts and lowered instances of cart abandonment.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 Mastercard plays a crucial role in the biometric payment space, having recently expanded its presence across multiple segments. In addition to facilitating biometric payment card usage by approving solutions of leading players (such as <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/21390"> IDEX </a> ), Mastercard has also ventured into the biometric payment terminal market. Earlier this year, Mastercard partnered with several companies to launch palm-recognition-based <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/30132"> POS terminals in Latin America </a> and facial-recognition-based <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/30281"> POS terminals in Poland </a> . These developments followed Mastercard's <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/10515"> launching of a pilot program </a> in May 2022 for retailers to offer facial recognition and fingerprint scanning-based payments in partnership with several tech providers, including NEC, PopID, Payface, Aurus, PaybyFace, and Fujitsu.

Mastercard expands payment passkey service in Asia-Pacific

<div>
 Fingerprint Cards AB, a provider of biometric sensor and software, has collaborated with Infineon Technologies, a consumer electronics company. Their objective is to create the "SECORA Pay Bio" which is a biometric payment card solution. It complies with both Visa and Mastercard.
 The SECORA Pay Bio system keeps fingerprint data on the card. It combines Infineon's SLC39B System-on-Chip Secure Element and Biometric Coil on Module package with the FPC1323 sensor from Fingerprint Cards. The system utilises inductive coupling technology for its operation. 
</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 FPC has entered numerous partnerships over the past few months. Last month, FPC partnered with <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/30921"> Valid </a> and expanded its partnership with <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/31115"> IN Groupe </a> to develop biometric payment cards. Before that, it partnered with <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/29103"> OVE </a> to launch a prototype fingerprint sensor for biometric retail payments in May and with <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/30531"> Thales </a> to launch biometric payment cards in Turkey in March.

Fingerprint Cards partners with Infineon to develop biometric payment card

<div>
 IDEX Biometrics, a fingerprint sensors manufacturer, has secured NOK 70 million (USD 6.6 million) via a private placement.
 The firm intends to use the investment to cater to working capital needs, develop products, market expansion, commercialization, and capital expenditures.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake : 
 IDEX Biometrics has made steady moves toward commercializing biometric payment cards over the past few years. Recent developments include <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/32942"> obtaining Visa certification </a> for its biometric payment card solution last month (one year after <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/21390"> receiving certification from Mastercard </a> ) and partnering with <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/32663"> TaluCard </a> (for expansion in Europe) and an <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/29261"> unnamed South Asian smartcard manufacturer </a> earlier this year to launch biometric payment cards by end-2024.

IDEX Biometrics raises NOK 70 million in private placement

<div>

IDEX Biometrics, a company that manufactures fingerprint sensors, has had its IDEX Pay biometric card solution certified by Visa. The certification process used Visa's own Visa Biometric Sensor-on-Card Specification (VBSS) payment application.
This certification indicates that IDEX Pay satisfies Visa's criteria for functionality and security which clears the path for its widespread commercial use within the Visa payment network.

</div> Analyst QuickTake: 
 <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/21390"> Visa now joins Mastercard, which certified the IDEX Pay solution </a> in August 2023. The certification should help card manufacturers get Visa’s approval for their respective biometric payment cards using IDEX Pay. For instance, In <a href="https: 
//sp-edge.com/updates/22768"> October 2023 </a> , an undisclosed card maker obtained a Letter of Approval (LoA) from Mastercard for biometric smart cards based on IDEX Pay's certified biometric solution.

Visa certifies IDEX Pay biometric card solution

<div>

 IDEX Biometrics, a company specializing in fingerprint sensors, has named Catharina Eklof as its new CEO. She succeeds Vince Graziani, who is set to continue with the company in an advisory capacity.
 During her tenure, Eklof aims to strengthen IDEX's standing in the biometric authentication industry. The company has set its sights on bolstering its presence in biometric payments and access markets, with a special emphasis on the Asia and EMEA regions.
 Prior to her CEO appointment, Eklof was the chief commercial officer for IDEX Biometrics for a span of three years. She also boasts past experience in successfully commercializing new tech solutions during her time at Mastercard and Securitas.
 
</div>

IDEX Biometrics appoints Catharina Eklof as CEO

<div>
 IDEX Biometrics and TaluCard have announced a partnership aimed at introducing an inclusive biometric payment solution in Europe. This card, known as TaluCard, will feature fingerprint authentication, tactile guidance markers, and voice guidance for increased accessibility and security, catering specifically for the visually impaired and elderly.
 The TaluCard is designed to provide unlimited contactless transactions without the need for PINs or signatures. It is due to launch in late 2024 and has been stated to comply with UK consumer duty, accessibility laws, and the European Accessibility Act.
</div>

IDEX Biometrics partners with TaluCard for inclusive biometric payment solutions in Europe

<div>
 
 JP Morgan Payments has teamed up with PopID, a company specializing in biometric payment terminals and authentication software, in an effort to implement facial recognition-based payment solutions in stores. This initiative is being tested with select merchants throughout the US.
 Already in action with pilot client South Florida Motorsports, who organize the Miami Grand Prix, this partnership is expanding to include national restaurant chain Whataburger. The system enables customers to process transactions in less than a second, all without the need for either a phone or a credit card. The objective here is to not only reduce checkout times but also bolster security.
 
</div> Analyst QuickTake : 
 This partnership comes about a year and a half after JP Morgan announced plans to pilot biometric-based payment solutions (palm and facial recognition) in the US. At the time, the company noted its intentions to introduce the service on a larger scale in 2024 if the pilot proved successful.

All Updates

Wink raises USD 3 million in seed funding

IDEX Biometrics partners with Cellfie Global to offer biometric metal and PVC cards

Mastercard partners with Tap Payments to offer passkey payments in UAE

Visa expands payment passkey service in Asia Pacific

Mastercard expands payment passkey service in Asia-Pacific

Fingerprint Cards partners with Infineon to develop biometric payment card

IDEX Biometrics raises NOK 70 million in private placement

Visa certifies IDEX Pay biometric card solution

IDEX Biometrics appoints Catharina Eklof as CEO

IDEX Biometrics partners with TaluCard for inclusive biometric payment solutions in Europe

JP Morgan Payments partners with PopID to launch facial recognition-based payments across US

Biometric Payments

Wink raises USD 3 million in seed funding

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