Biometric Payment Systems Gaining Popularity in Russia: Analysis
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Synopsis
As of April 2023, biometric payment systems have gained significant momentum in Russia, with a report indicating a turnover of 28 billion rubles. The country leads globally in biometric payment adoption, driven by widespread terminal access and growing user engagement.
Key Takeaways
- 28 billion rubles in biometric payment turnover.
- Over 1 million terminals available nationwide.
- 35 million transactions made in Q1 2025 with Smile.
- Biometric payments are now widely adopted across Russia.
- Majority users are aged 25 to 44 years.
New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) Biometric payments have gained significant traction in Russia, as detailed in a report released on Thursday.
The analysis from Sber Bank indicated that the overall turnover for payments utilizing biometric technology reached an impressive 28 billion rubles ($331 million).
This figure notably surpasses the total number of transactions for the entire year of 2024, which was recorded at 26 million.
Additionally, the report revealed that the number of payment terminals across the nation has surpassed 1 million.
This terminal network extends throughout the entirety of Russia, even covering remote areas.
Particularly, the Smile Payment service, which is accessible nationwide, continues to rise in popularity, with Moscow and St. Petersburg identified as the leading cities.
Other major cities with populations exceeding one million, such as Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Perm, are also noteworthy regions.
During the first quarter of 2025, Russians have completed over 35 million transactions using Smile, according to the report.
"Russia has emerged as the first nation globally to widely adopt payments through biometrics. This service is available to all citizens aged 18 and above across the country, including its affiliated regions," stated Dmitry Malykh, senior vice president and head of the transactional banking division at Sber.
"The transaction volume for the first quarter of 2025 has already surpassed the total for the entire previous year. This indicates a shift from the initial phase of technology introduction to a stage of active acceptance by the general populace – the 'innovators' have been joined by the 'early adopters'," Malykh added.
Malykh pointed out that typically, it takes 3-4 years to complete the development cycle for such services, yet the technology was launched in the summer of 2023.
An analysis of user demographics reveals that the primary users of this service are individuals aged 25 to 44, accounting for 56 percent. This is followed by users aged 45 to 64, making up 31 percent.
Users aged 22-24 and those over 65 years comprise 5 percent of the total user base.
Only 3 percent of individuals aged 18 to 21 use biometric payments, according to the report.
