The banking technology firm and employee benefits company announced the launch in Mumbai on September 11, 2026. Enabled through NPCI’s network, the system uses secure digital keys held on the customer’s device instead of requiring an SMS OTP for each payment.

Customers enrol during their first checkout, confirming registration with an OTP. For later payments, they can use a fingerprint, face recognition or device PIN. This reduces reliance on mobile network availability and avoids waiting for a fresh message each time they pay.

According to Zeta, authentication through passkeys takes 5–7 seconds, compared with 15–25 seconds for SMS OTPs. The company also reported a registration success rate of almost 99%. Faster approval could mean fewer purchases abandoned because authentication takes too long.

The launch comes against a backdrop of digital payment fraud exceeding ₹21,367 crore in FY2025, over five times the previous year’s level. Device-linked passkeys reduce exposure to the phishing and interception risks associated with SMS authentication. The approach also aligns with RBI’s two-factor authentication requirements effective April 1, 2026, which encourage dynamic methods tied to users’ devices.

Zeta said it is working with additional RuPay issuers to extend the technology’s reach. The report does not identify those issuers or provide a rollout schedule.