Welcome to ID Tech’s digest of identity industry news. Here’s what you need to know about the world of digital identity and biometrics today:
ID.me Awarded CMS Contract to Support Medicare.gov Sign-In and Identity Verification
ID.me has been selected to support identity verification for Medicare.gov beginning in early 2026, allowing many beneficiaries to reuse existing credentials already verified to federal standards. CMS positions the move within its digital modernization strategy and signals a shift toward federated identity across agencies. The rollout will occur alongside other providers, with details on step-up verification and assisted pathways still to be clarified.
FINRA Mandates ID.me Identity Verification for Entitlement Platform Access
FINRA will require ID.me identity verification for administrators accessing its Entitlement Program beginning in the 2026 certification period. The update elevates identity proofing to a core access-governance control, with strict legal-name matching required before privileges are granted. The move points to a broader regulatory shift toward higher-assurance authentication for sensitive financial-industry roles.
Saviynt Exchange Adds 1Kosmos for Biometric Proofing and Passwordless Identity Workflows
Saviynt has added 1Kosmos to its Exchange marketplace, enabling biometric identity proofing and passwordless authentication within identity governance workflows. The integration ties verification directly to onboarding, access changes, and step-up events, reducing reliance on static credentials. The partnership reflects increasing convergence between identity assurance and lifecycle management in highly regulated sectors.
Precise Biometrics Introduces BioMatch Vizo Fingerprint Matching Engine
Precise Biometrics has launched BioMatch Vizo, a next-generation fingerprint matching engine built on updated neural-network architecture for improved accuracy and speed. The system is designed to support diverse sensor types and integrate closely with the company’s BioLive liveness detection technology. Initial deliveries are expected later this year, with broader commercial rollout planned for 2026.
UIDAI Formalizes Offline Face Verification in Aadhaar Regulations
UIDAI has amended Aadhaar regulations to formally authorize offline face verification using locally stored, digitally signed credentials rather than real-time database queries. The change supports identity checks in disconnected or privacy-sensitive environments, expanding options for banks, telecoms, and other regulated entities. Adoption will depend on implementation costs and updates to relying-party software.
Tether Leads $8 Million Investment in Speed to Expand Lightning Network Payments
Tether has led an $8 million investment in Speed, a Lightning-based payments platform enabling near-instant transactions using bitcoin and USDT. The expansion raises compliance considerations as stablecoin payments move toward mainstream merchant workflows. Identity verification, sanctions screening, and monitoring expectations are likely to shape how Speed scales under tightening regulatory scrutiny.
Diamond Capture and Incode Secure $37.4 Million Login.gov Identity Proofing Contract
Diamond Capture and subcontractor Incode have won a $37.4 million award to enhance Login.gov’s remote identity proofing capabilities. The contract supports federal efforts to reach NIST IAL2 standards and improve biometric accuracy across diverse populations. As Login.gov serves dozens of agencies, performance and fairness in unsupervised verification workflows will be central to the deployment.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team