IDEX Biometrics has secured a significant purchase order for 10,000 biometric payment cards valued at approximately USD 50,000, marking the company’s latest expansion into the Japanese market. The order represents the initial phase of a broader biometric payment card program that will operate across both Mastercard and Visa networks in Japan.
The order follows IDEX Biometrics’ recent partnership with LIFE CARD, a subsidiary of AIFUL, Japan’s third-largest consumer finance company. Through this collaboration, LIFE CARD aims to introduce the first commercial biometric payment cards in Japan, with a planned rollout in the first half of 2025.
The news builds on IDEX Biometrics’ growing presence in global markets, including its recent success in the Middle East and Africa region, where it secured a similar 10,000-unit order for VISA biometric cards. The technology is based on the IDEX Pay platform, which recently received certification from both Visa and Mastercard, enabling manufacturers to expedite their market entry and deployment processes.
Catharina Eklof, Chief Executive Officer at IDEX Biometrics, emphasized the accelerating pace of innovation among their card manufacturing partners. “The innovation pace of our card manufacturing partners in bringing biometric smart cards to market is accelerating; certifications allow them to move to industrialized production and commercialization,” she said. “Ultimately bringing more secure payments, access and identity control to more consumers around the world.”
The expansion into Japan comes at a time when the global biometric payment market is experiencing significant growth. According to recent market analysis, the number of biometric payment users worldwide is expected to reach 3.5 billion by 2030, with the market projected to reach $11.3 billion in value.
March 4, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
