ThumbPay biometric payment system is India’s latest fintech innovation by Proxgy, designed to enable secure, smartphone-free UPI payments using Aadhaar-based thumb authentication.
The ThumbPay biometric payment system integrates Aadhaar and UPI for seamless payments.
Proxgy developed the ThumbPay biometric payment system to empower users without smartphones.
Regulatory approvals for the ThumbPay biometric payment system are awaited from UIDAI and NPCI.
Future of ThumbPay in India
Experts believe the ThumbPay biometric payment system could revolutionize rural and small-town payments in India. With smartphone-free access and Aadhaar authentication, the system can boost financial inclusion and digital literacy. Once approved by UIDAI and NPCI, ThumbPay may be adopted by leading banks, fintech firms, and merchants nationwide.
DATED 13.10.2025 : ThumbPay is an innovative biometric payment system, being introduced in India by the startup Proxgy, that allows users to make instant, secure payments using only their thumbprint.
Here’s a breakdown of what it is and how it works:
- Payment Method: It’s a “thumbprint-only” payment system that eliminates the need for a smartphone, physical card, or cash.
- Technology: It cleverly integrates two of India’s major digital infrastructures:
- Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS): This is used for biometric identity verification when the user places their thumb on the compact reader.
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI): Once the user is authenticated via their Aadhaar-linked thumbprint, the payment is instantly debited from their bank account via the UPI network.
- Goal: The system is designed to promote financial inclusion by making digital payments accessible to a wider population, including the elderly, daily wage earners, and those who may not own or prefer not to use a smartphone.
- The Device: Merchants use a low-cost, battery-powered device equipped with a certified thumbprint scanner, a small screen, and connectivity options (4G, Wi-Fi, etc.). It can also function as a UPI “soundbox” to provide instant payment confirmations.
Key features and benefits
- Smartphone-free payments: The primary benefit is allowing payments without a phone, card, or cash.
- Aadhaar-UPI integration: It integrates the Aadhaar biometric system with the UPI platform for seamless transactions.
- Affordability: Priced under ₹2,000, the device is designed to be affordable for small merchants like kirana stores and street vendors.
- Accessibility: It aims to include those who are not comfortable with or have access to smartphone-based payment systems.
- UPI soundbox functionality: It can also act as a UPI soundbox, announcing payment confirmations.
APPROVALS : ThumbPay is currently seeking final approvals from the relevant authorities.
- Seeking Approval: The company (Proxgy) has completed its internal pilot field trials and is in the process of pursuing compliance approvals from both:
- NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India): The body that operates UPI.
- UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India): The body that manages the Aadhaar biometric database.
- Rollout Plan: The wider, public rollout is planned to begin in phases—starting with major banks and fintech companies—once these regulatory approvals are secured.
Therefore, while the system is built to leverage the existing UPI network, it is not yet fully approved for a massive, nationwide public launch by the regulators who oversee UPI and Aadhaar.
Reliability and Security
The system is designed with high reliability and security standards, primarily by leveraging India’s existing robust digital infrastructure:
| Feature | Description |
| Foundation | It uses the proven, bank-to-bank UPI network for fund transfers and the secure Aadhaar AEPS system for identity verification. |
| Biometric Security | The device features a STQC-certified thumbprint scanner with liveness detection to prevent fraud using fake or severed fingers. |
| No Data Storage | User biometrics are not stored on the device itself. Instead, the thumbprint is sent in an encrypted format to the Aadhaar server for one-time verification. |
| Hardware Reliability | The device is designed to be battery-powered and supports multiple connectivity options (4G, Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN), making it reliable even in areas with weak or unstable electricity/network service. |