Handwave lends a hand to retailers with its European alternative to Amazon’s palm payments

Handwave, a Latvian fintech startup, is developing a European alternative to Amazon’s palm payment system, focusing specifically on retail. Unlike Amazon, which deploys its palm scanning technology primarily in its own stores and a limited number of third-party locations, Handwave aims to partner broadly with retailers by offering its own hardware and software for palm vein pattern recognition and user presence verification. This biometric payment method promises faster, cheaper, and more convenient checkouts without the need for cards, apps, fingerprints, or facial scans, and can also support age verification and loyalty programs. The company plans to charge merchants transaction fees comparable to or lower than standard payment methods. Handwave’s founders, with backgrounds at the global payment provider Worldline, are building an open ecosystem by collaborating with major financial institutions, particularly in Europe. The startup recently signed an agreement with Visa to accelerate deployment across countries and is preparing for market pilots in retail stores. Starting in the European Union, known for its strict regulatory environment, is seen as