Visa has announced the acquisition of BioCatch, a company specialising in artificial intelligence-based fraud detection and prevention solutions, in a move designed to strengthen the payments giant's capacity to protect clients against financial crime.
According to Visa, integrating BioCatch into its operations will complement its existing portfolio of cybersecurity, risk management, and fraud prevention solutions, helping banks and financial institutions identify and block suspicious activity before transactions are completed.
The deal, valued at US$2.4 billion, remains subject to regulatory approval and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Visa expects to complete the acquisition by the end of the second quarter of its 2027 fiscal year.
BioCatch develops solutions built on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Its technology analyses thousands of behavioural signals across devices, applications, and networks to distinguish, in real time, legitimate users from potential fraudsters.
The company currently protects approximately 1.8 billion devices and 760 million users worldwide, serving more than 350 banks across 21 countries, including over 100 of the world's leading financial institutions.
"For more than a decade, we have demonstrated the unique power of human behaviour to distinguish criminals from legitimate users. Over the past two years, we have shown how real-time information-sharing networks among our clients can further amplify the power of our behavioural intelligence," said BioCatch chief executive Gadi Mazor.
Andrew Torre, president of Visa's Value Added Services division, highlighted the growing threat posed by AI-driven financial fraud. "Account takeover and fraud cost the global economy more than one billion dollars per year, and AI is enabling these attacks at an unprecedented scale," he said.
Torre added that BioCatch's technology will allow Visa to stop fraud before it reaches the point of payment, reinforcing the security of digital transactions.
The acquisition of BioCatch forms part of a broader trend among payments companies and financial infrastructure providers seeking to expand their capabilities in digital identity, authentication, and fraud prevention, according to fintech analysis site Finsiders Brasil.
Over the past five years, Visa has invested more than US$13 billion in technology and infrastructure to strengthen the security of its payments ecosystem and reduce fraud rates globally. Rival Mastercard has similarly pursued acquisitions in recent years, purchasing NuData Security, Ethoca, RiskRecon, and Ekata to bolster its capabilities in behavioural biometrics, anti-fraud intelligence, and risk management.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/08/04/trends/fintechs/visa-adquire-empresa-de-ciberseguranca-para-reforcar-proteccao-contra-crimes-financeiros/
