Biometric wallet Handwave
Brief description of the project
Handwave is the world’s first biometric wallet that enables people to make payments, verify age, and activate loyalty benefits with a single palm scan — without a phone, wallet, cards, or PIN code. The technologically innovative solution combines a specially developed palm scanner, software, and a biometric data management platform. Handwave uses a dual-camera system that simultaneously reads palm lines and vein patterns, which are unique to each individual. In addition, the technology detects blood flow in the veins, and compared to facial or fingerprint recognition, this biometric solution is more secure. Conventionally, payment processing, loyalty activation, and identity verification are handled in separate systems, with the entire process taking more than 60 seconds. Handwave reduces this time to 4 seconds. As a result, queues are reduced, and, consequently, lost sales are minimised. The first retail implementations of Handwave technology are planned for 2026.
Originality and creativity of the idea
Innovation is expressed through the user experience by combining payment, loyalty, and age verification into a single gesture. Unlike solutions focused solely on payments or access, «Handwave» unifies the entire process—discreetly and securely—using surface palm and vein biometrics, significantly reducing card-based fraud. In addition, «Handwave» is the only solution that also supports e-commerce, enabling payment and loyalty activation in a single step, providing merchants with advantages unavailable through other offerings. The solution is easy to integrate for merchants (offering a «plug-and-play» approach for small businesses), available to any acquiring bank (Acquirer), compatible with leading card schemes, enabling service activation for 8 billion cards globally, and—unlike other biometric solutions—does not require contracts with issuing banks (Issuer). This allows for rapid scalability.
Definition of the problem and the relevance of the applied solutions
The problem «Handwave» solves is slow, fragmented, and inconvenient payment and identity verification processes. Customers currently juggle payment cards, loyalty cards, phones, and ID documents, causing queues, confusion, and awkward situations, particularly for age-restricted purchases. For end users, this means lost time, fewer loyalty rewards, and unnecessary discomfort. For retailers, these complex processes mean long peak-hour queues, lower throughput, higher costs, and increased staff workload. Manual age verification steps increase error risk and fraud potential, while complicated loyalty mechanisms reduce repeat purchases. «Handwave» consolidates payments, loyalty, and age verification in a single gesture using secure palm biometric identification. It accelerates checkout, reduces staff workload, increases revenue, and provides customers with a faster, simpler, and seamless experience.
Co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation during the realisation process
The «Handwave» service was created in close co-creation with retailers, payment networks, technology partners, legal experts, and end users. As no palm biometric datasets existed in the market, Handwave created its own, collecting thousands of palms across multiple regions to develop a precise and secure recognition algorithm. In collaboration with «Handwave» engineers, RTU, and Belgian partners, a unique palm scanner was developed for both data collection and in-store deployment. A key partnership with Visa enables access to 7.8 billion cards (including Mastercard), providing global scalability. Legal and security experts were consulted throughout to ensure regulatory compliance, safety, and transparency.
Functionality and technological solutions
«Handwave» functionality is built on a simple and secure process: users register in the «Handwave» app, scan their palm using the phone camera, and link payment and loyalty cards. For convenience, palm registration will also be available in stores via a compact scanner placed next to existing checkouts. The device operates using only power and Wi-Fi, while identification is processed via a cloud platform. At checkout, the user simply waves their palm over the scanner, and within seconds «Handwave» verifies the palm, performs age/ID verification, automatically activates loyalty, and authorises payment using existing card networks. For large retailers, integration is straightforward—the scanner connects to ECR or POS systems via a cloud-based API—while smaller merchants use a «plug-and-play» solution. The result is one gesture for payments, loyalty, and age and identity verification, reducing queues, staff involvement, and abandoned purchases while improving customer experience.
Aesthetics and other experiential dimensions
«Handwave» aesthetics and experience emphasize lightness and security. At the service’s core is a natural, unobtrusive gesture—a palm hover—that reduces physical contact with devices and preserves personal space, unlike facial scanning or handing over documents. The scanner and interface are designed for immediate intuitiveness: a clear palm placement area, simple light and screen signals providing feedback. The brand language, visual identity, and app are designed to convey a friendly, human-centered experience, reducing fear of biometric technology. The goal is to make payments «invisible» and trustworthy.
Economic significance, sustainability and circularity
«Handwave» delivers direct economic benefits to retailers and society. Faster service and shorter queues enable more customers to be served with the same resources, reducing staff strain and cash register errors. Integrated age verification reduces fraud and regulatory risks, while biometric identification with tokenization lowers the cost of fraudulent transactions. Palm scanners and software are designed as long-term infrastructure, updatable via software rather than full equipment replacement. The service gradually reduces the need for loyalty cards, decreasing production and logistics-related environmental impact. By combining payment, loyalty, and age verification, it also saves resources in retailer infrastructure over time. As an independent European solution, «Handwave» promotes local innovation and globally competitive business.
Social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility
«Handwave» social significance lies in accessibility, ease of use, security, and trust in digital services. Palm biometrics allow payment, age verification, and loyalty activation without a phone or physical card, which is especially important for seniors, people with mobility challenges, or those uncomfortable managing multiple digital apps. The simple gesture and visual cues reduce cognitive load and potential confusion at checkout. Palm biometrics are more discreet than facial recognition, and data management adheres to strict European privacy and security standards, giving users clear control over when and how their biometric identity is used. In this way, «Handwave» strengthens trust in digital services and fosters a more inclusive, secure payment environment.
