OpenSys Technologies has started testing a new way to pay in Malaysia with PalmWav, a prototype that lets you complete transactions using just the palm of your hand. Built to work with the country’s existing payment systems, including PayNet’s MyDebit network, the system aims to show how biometric technology could fit into Malaysia’s broader digital payments landscape.
In a controlled pilot, the company showcased PalmWav to employees and partners before bringing it to two real-world locations, Kom.Fi Café in Kuala Lumpur and Bread Maison in Petaling Jaya. These early demonstrations highlight how a simple wave of the hand could serve as a fast, secure alternative to phones, cards, or cash. Powered by Tencent Cloud’s AI-driven biometrics, the system creates an encrypted palm signature and authenticates users within seconds, meeting strict privacy and security requirements.
Enrolling is straightforward: users download the PalmWav app and register once at participating merchants. After that, payments can be made by hovering a hand over the PalmWav reader. OpenSys says the idea is to create a more intuitive experience that benefits both consumers and merchants, offering faster checkouts, hands-free interaction, loyalty integration, and scalability for future payment schemes.
The organization also emphasizes security through enterprise-level protections such as end-to-end encryption, tokenized transactions, and real-time fraud monitoring, building a foundation for trust as it explores Malaysia’s next phase of digital payment innovation.
Through this pilot, OpenSys Technologies plans to continue evaluating how palm-based payments can support Malaysia’s digital economy and whether the technology could expand into broader real-world use cases.
