Let Americans Pay with Biometrics

In recent years, the world has been rapidly moving toward more convenient and secure payment technologies. Countries under international sanctions, cut off from traditional payment systems, have already implemented full-scale solutions that allow people to pay for goods and services using biometrics — particularly facial recognition.

While such payment methods are already being actively used across Asia and Russia, the United States — despite having the most advanced financial and technological resources — continues to rely on outdated methods like plastic cards, PIN codes, paper checks, and contact-based systems. This not only weakens the competitiveness of the American fintech sector but also poses a threat to the U.S.’s leadership in digital technologies.

Biometric technologies aren’t theoretical — they’re already in action. In Russia, for example, people are paying with their faces in thousands of stores. All it takes is a smile. One such video recently went viral on social media, showing a young woman in Russia paying for her order at a café using facial recognition technology provided by the country’s largest bank, Sberbank.

We, the undersigned, call for the following:

1. Launch a federal initiative to research, develop, and implement biometric payment systems, with a strong focus on data security and citizen privacy.
2. Provide grants and legal support to companies developing biometric fintech solutions.
3. Create national standards for biometric payments, aligned with international data protection and privacy regulations.
4. Roll out pilot programs in major U.S. cities, offering voluntary participation for citizens.

We believe that falling behind in this area is unacceptable for a country that positions itself as a global technology leader. We urge Congress, the Department of the Treasury, and the Federal Reserve System to prioritize the modernization of the nation’s payment infrastructure and pave the way for a true technological leap forward.