Adyen lets UK shoppers confirm online card payments with a phone unlock

Payment company Adyen has begun offering Visa Payment Passkey to merchants in the UK. It lets eligible shoppers confirm an online card purchase using their device's unlock method, instead of extra security steps at checkout. A wider global rollout is planned for 2027.

What it does

You set it up once. First, your bank checks that it's really you. Then you create a passkey, which is a login method tied to your device. After that, you can use your device's unlock method to approve future eligible purchases. It works for first-time purchases and for returning customers.

Adyen has added the feature to Authenticate, a tool inside its Adyen Uplift suite. Authenticate uses machine learning to decide whether a payment needs a check, which method fits best, and what details to share with the card issuer. Merchants get the new option without a separate integration.

What is not known yet

• The exact UK launch date was not given.
• Which banks and which merchants will support it was not listed.
• The material does not say what it costs merchants.
• What counts as an eligible purchase was not explained.

The companies say the goal is a faster checkout with better protection against fraud and phishing. For online sellers, that could mean fewer shoppers giving up at the payment step. Further enhancements are also planned for 2027.