Tencent and Visa Launch Palm Recognition Payments Pilot in Singapore

Chinese tech giant Tencent has partnered with Visa to roll out its palm recognition payment technology internationally, starting in Singapore, reports Finextra.

In this pilot program, Visa cardholders from participating Singaporean banks—such as DBS, OCBC, and UOB—can enroll at designated merchant locations. The one-time setup involves tapping their Visa card, scanning their palm, and completing authentication. After enrollment, a Visa payment token is linked to the user’s palm biometric data, enabling payments at participating stores simply by waving their palm, eliminating the need for cards or phones.

Tencent emphasizes the security of this system, which uses a two-step verification process combining palm print and unique vein patterns beneath the skin. User data is securely encrypted to prevent decryption, theft, or misuse by third parties.

Adeline Kim, Visa’s country manager for Singapore and Brunei, highlights that “our biometrics study shows nearly 70% of Singapore consumers view this as a secure payment method. Our goal is to elevate the payment experience, ensuring customers enjoy seamless, highly secure transactions.”