Checkout.com adds passkeys so shoppers can skip texted codes

Checkout.com, a payments company used by big retailers, is adding passkeys. That means returning shoppers at stores that turn it on could confirm a purchase the way they unlock their phone, instead of waiting for a one-time code by text. The rollout starts in the United Kingdom and Europe, then goes global.

What changed

Checkout.com handles payments for online merchants. It will offer the Visa Payment Passkey, a way to approve a payment with a biometric check such as a face or fingerprint scan. The company says it serves 1,700 enterprise merchants and lists Best Buy and Microsoft as clients. It is based in London.

How a passkey works

A passkey is a pair of digital keys. One is public and is registered with the website or app. The other is private and is held only by your device. When you prove who you are with your face or fingerprint, you get in. No code is typed, and the passkey replaces one-time passcodes.

The FIDO Alliance says 5 million passkeys were in use worldwide as of May. The technology is gaining ground on usernames and passwords.

Why merchants may move quickly

Checkout.com says its merchants can offer passkeys without building a new checkout flow, because the feature comes from its existing technology. Rami Josef, a senior product director at the company, said every one-time passcode is a point where a customer can walk away. He said the passkey lets returning shoppers confirm a payment the way they already unlock their phone.

What shoppers are worried about

A new Visa survey of 1,016 consumers, taken Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, shows how people are reacting to fraud and scams. It also found that 54% have used AI for at least one shopping action, up from 47% in 2025.

• 34% have adopted two-factor authentication.
• 34% are changing passwords more often.
• 25% are choosing not to save payment details with a site.
• 24% are switching from debit cards to credit cards.
• 21% are opting for digital wallets.

What is not known yet

The material does not say when each region will get passkeys. It also does not say which merchants will switch the feature on, including whether Best Buy or Microsoft will. Merchants choose whether to offer it, so your experience will depend on the store.