Why do enterprises use passkeys for payment authentication?

Why Are Enterprises Using Passkeys for Payment Authentication?#

Enterprises are rapidly adopting passkeys for payment authentication due to their superior security, compliance with PSD2, and frictionless user experience. Traditional authentication methods, such as passwords and SMS-based OTPs, are prone to phishing, credential theft, and fraud, making them unsuitable for securing financial transactions.

Key Reasons Enterprises Are Using Passkeys for Payments#

1. Passkeys Meet PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) Requirements#

• PSD2 mandates multi-factor authentication (MFA) for online payments.
• Passkeys fulfill SCA requirements by combining:
  • Something You Have – a device with a secure key.
  • Something You Are – biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello).
• Unlike SMS OTPs, passkeys provide phishing-resistant, hardware-backed authentication.

2. Strong Protection Against Payment Fraud#

• Passwords and OTPs are vulnerable to phishing and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
• Passkeys eliminate password-based fraud by:
  • Using public-key cryptography – private keys never leave the user’s device.
  • Being resistant to credential stuffing and replay attacks.

3. Enhanced User Experience and Faster Checkouts#

• Traditional MFA methods (e.g., SMS OTPs) cause friction and increase cart abandonment rates.
• Passkeys streamline payment authentication, allowing users to verify transactions instantly with biometrics.
• Enterprises see higher conversion rates due to reduced friction at checkout.

4. Dynamic Linking for Secure Payment Authorization#

• PSD2 requires dynamic linking, ensuring each transaction is cryptographically tied to its details.
• Passkeys support WebAuthn signatures, which:
  • Bind authentication to specific transaction details.
  • Prevent unauthorized modifications to payment amounts or recipients.

5. Lower Costs Compared to SMS-Based Authentication#

• SMS OTP authentication is expensive and prone to fraud.
• Enterprises save on authentication costs by eliminating SMS-based OTPs in favor of passkeys.

6. Seamless Cross-Device and Multi-Platform Usage#

• Passkeys can sync across user devices, enabling frictionless authentication without requiring additional MFA steps.
• Supported by Apple iCloud Keychain, Google Password Manager, and third-party password managers.

Which Enterprises Benefit the Most from Passkeys?#

1. Financial Institutions and Banks#

• PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) regulations require secure authentication.
• Banks use passkeys for login and transaction approvals, reducing fraud risk.

2. E-commerce and Payment Providers#

• Checkout friction leads to lost sales – passkeys improve user experience and increase completed transactions.
• Payment processors integrate passkeys to comply with PSD2 and reduce fraud liability.

3. Large-Scale Consumer Platforms#

• Subscription services, marketplaces, and travel platforms benefit from seamless authentication.
• Passkeys enhance security without disrupting the customer experience.

Conclusion#

Enterprises use passkeys for payment authentication because they provide strong security, reduce fraud, and improve user experience while ensuring compliance with PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements. With phishing-resistant authentication, dynamic linking, and seamless biometric verification, passkeys are the future of secure online payments.

Read the full article#

About Corbado

Corbado is the Authentication Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: where passkeys, passwords, OTP, social login and fallback journeys succeed, stall or fail, which devices and browsers create friction, and when an OS update silently breaks login. Two products: Corbado Observe layers process mining and observability across authentication journeys. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in alongside your IDP. VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →