Viral Reel shows how customers can pay by scanning their palms. This is how it works

China is witnessing the emergence of a futuristic payment method that eliminates the need for physical cards or even mobile phones: palm-scan payments. This technology leverages advanced palmprint and vein recognition to allow users to complete transactions with a simple wave of their hand. Scanning a user’s palm instantly verifies their identity and processes payment, providing a fast, secure and contactless solution.

A recent viral Instagram Reel brought attention to this technology. The video shows how smoothly and quickly palm scanning payments work. In the video, the user completes a transaction almost instantly, emphasizing the convenience and speed of the system.

This technology is already integrated into various everyday scenarios, notably in public transport. For example, on the Beijing Airport Daxing Subway Line, passengers can pay for their fare simply by hovering their palm over a scanner at the turnstile.

How do Palm-Scan payments work?

So how does it work? The process begins with a quick registration. Users align their palms with a scanner on a palm scanning device while scanning a QR code on their mobile phone. This links the user’s palm print and vein pattern to their payment account. Once set up, users can start making payments by scanning their palms at supported locations.

Palm scanning payments are used across a wide range of industries. In retail, shoppers can use technology to pay for their goods at checkout. In restaurants, diners can pay their bills with a simple palm scan. The transport sector is also adopting this technology, with users paying for bus, train and metro journeys. Additionally, it is used for power bank rentals, where customers can rent and return portable chargers using only their palms.

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Tencent Holdings, the company behind the hugely popular Chinese platform WeChat, has become a leader in the adoption of palm-scanning payments. Its WeChat Pay service (known as Weixin Pay in China) has integrated this technology in various contexts, and the service was recently launched in Macau, enabling seamless transactions for mainland Chinese tourists. Meanwhile, other tech giants like Ant Group, which operates Alipay, are also developing their own versions of payment systems based on Palm technology.

As palm-scanning payments continue to expand, this innovation could transform the way people in China – and potentially around the world – pay for everyday items, offering a glimpse into the future of cashless transactions . Ease of use, combined with high security and fast operation, makes palm payments a strong contender in the growing trend of biometric payment solutions.