China: Paying by the palm of your hand with WeChat pay

Chinese technology giant Tencent has launched a palm recognition service for its WeChat Pay service in Beijing. From now on, metro passengers can pay simply by passing their palms over a scanner.

According to the South China Morning Post, users can pay for their journeys on the capital’s Daxing Airport Express line by passing their hands over a scanner installed on the entrance gates of metro stations.

 «Recognition of a single palmprint triggers automatic payment via the user’s WeChat account», the article states.

According to Tencent, palmprints must first be taken by the user via a specially installed machine in the stations, and then metro passengers can use their palms at the entrance turnstiles.

The technology used is based on the recognition of prints from the surface of the hand and the veins in the palm, said Tencent.

«In order to improve efficiency and greatly simplify the passenger experience, we are facilitating the use of new technologies», officials explained

WeChat Pay is an electronic wallet connected to the giant Chinese application of the same name.

What sets WeChat Pay apart from traditional methods is its user-friendly approach, which simplifies the transaction process for consumers.

For example, the innovative payment option allows customers to make purchases in a shop by swiping the palm of their hand over a scanner, without the need for cash, cards or smartphones, which is the best way to pay.

WeChat Pay is used daily by Chinese shoppers, both domestically and internationally, with over 800 million monthly active users.