Handwave, a Riga-based fintech specializing in palm-based payment and identity solutions, has announced an expanded partnership with Visa on September 2, 2026 to accelerate the rollout of biometric payments across Europe. The agreement will see Handwave integrate Visa's tokenization, authentication, and fraud prevention technologies to securely link payment cards to users' palms. This collaboration aims to simplify card onboarding and strengthen the security infrastructure behind contactless biometric transactions.
Technology Integration and Security
Under the expanded agreement, Handwave will use Visa's tokenization and authentication capabilities to replace sensitive card data with secure digital tokens during card onboarding. The platform will also gain access to Visa's fraud prevention tools, including Decision Manager, for real-time transaction monitoring. These integrations are intended to ensure biometric payments meet the same security and compliance standards as traditional card transactions.
Market Expansion and Distribution
Visa will support Handwave with market development, marketing initiatives, and data-driven insights to accelerate expansion beyond the Baltics. The companies are also working to enable Handwave within the Visa Acceptance Platform, allowing acquirers and merchants already connected to Visa's infrastructure to integrate the biometric solution more easily. This move could significantly expand distribution potential for palm-based payments across global markets.
Regional Launch and Pilot Programs
The Baltics will serve as the initial launch market for Handwave's biometric payment and identity verification services. Handwave reports that it is in advanced discussions with leading banking and retail partners in the region to prepare pilot programs that will bring palm-based payments into everyday retail environments. The company expects these pilots to progress into production deployments later this year, building a foundation for broader European rollouts.
Consumer Adoption Trends
Handwave's March 2026 research indicates that nearly half of US consumers would adopt palm-based payments if security and privacy were guaranteed. Younger shoppers are driving demand, with 46 percent of people aged 25 to 34 trusting biometric recognition for payments or loyalty claims, compared with 28 percent of those over 55. Across all age groups, 48 percent said they would use palm payments regularly if trust in data handling was assured, underscoring that confidence in security remains decisive.
Executive Perspectives
Oskars Lakšēvics, Chief Revenue Officer at Handwave, said the agreement is a major step toward making biometric payments ready for everyday use. He explained that users can onboard their palm and payment card in seconds using a regular phone camera, with cards added as easily as in any leading digital wallet. Juris Paegle, Country Manager for Visa in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, added that Visa's role is to enable innovations while maintaining trust, security, and choice.
Building on Previous Collaboration
The expanded agreement builds on Handwave's earlier collaboration with Visa, which focused on integrating Visa's Token Management Service to enable secure tokenized biometric payments across Visa's global network. This foundation has allowed the companies to move toward broader commercial deployment and more robust platform capabilities. Handwave describes its technology as an agnostic biometric acceptance layer that works with existing payment infrastructure used by banks, acquirers, and merchants.
By combining Handwave's palm recognition platform with Visa's established payment infrastructure, the partnership aims to make biometric payments a practical option for European consumers and businesses. The initial focus on the Baltics provides a controlled environment for pilot programs before wider scaling. If successful, this collaboration could help normalize palm-based payments as a secure and convenient alternative to traditional cards and mobile wallets.