ThumbPay is a new method of payment in India. Proxy, an Indian digital payments startup, has made this possible. This method of biometric payment enables individuals to make payments using a fingerprint-based system. You put your thumb on the small machine. The device checks your Aadhaar and sends money via UPI payments. You do not need a phone, a card, or cash. It is a big step for financial inclusion in India.
Proxgy calls ThumbPay an IoT payment device because it connects to the internet and to bank systems. This payment method can be used in various locations across India, including stores, marketplaces, transportation, and medical facilities.
What ThumbPay Is and Why It Matters
ThumbPay uses Aadhaar payments and UPI together. When a user places a thumb on the sensor, the device does a secure Aadhaar UPI payment with a thumbprint. This means the device can identify the person and then send money bank-to-bank using UPI rails. It is like turning your thumb into a wallet.
News reports indicate that the Proxgy Aadhaar-linked UPI device launch is targeted at small merchants, village kiosks, delivery agents, and public-service counters. The company says that ThumbPay biometric payment, which can be used without a smartphone, helps people who may not own a smartphone or do not want to use a PIN.
Hindi coverage adds helpful details: the device features a certified fingerprint scanner, a tiny camera, a UV cleaning function, a UPI soundbox, and supports Wi-Fi, 4G, and even LoRaWAN (for low-signal areas). Reports also indicate that the target Proxgy ThumbPay cost and availability are under ₹2,000, and it runs on battery, allowing shops to use it even during power cuts.
How It Fits India’s Biometric Payment Push
India is already moving toward more biometric payments. NPCI, which runs UPI, has been exploring fingerprint and face-based UPI approvals to reduce PIN entry and make payments faster. This is the big picture behind financial inclusion through biometric transaction devices. ThumbPay is a device that rides this wave and brings it to the last mile.
Other Aadhaar-based tools exist, like BHIM Aadhaar Pay for merchants. So what are the differences between ThumbPay and Aadhaar Pay? In simple words, the BHIM Aadhaar Pay is a system that combines a fingerprint sensor and software. They enable retailers to accept Aadhaar payments. ThumbPay, by contrast, is a single, ready device that merges Aadhaar authentication with UPI and adds a soundbox, battery power, and multi-network options, with a mass-market price target.
Cost, Power, and Connectivity
For a device to scale in India, price matters. Reports indicate that Proxgy ThumbPay’s cost and availability will be targeted at under ₹2,000 to help small shops adopt it. The battery power of the device allows it to work during power cuts. Network support over Wi-Fi, 4G, and LoRaWAN helps in areas with weak signals. These things make it practical for crowded markets and remote villages.
This pricing focus is essential because many merchants still use feature phones or basic QR code stands. A low-cost IoT payment device with sound alerts and Aadhaar+UPI can feel like a significant upgrade without a hefty bill.
Rollout and Approvals
Coverage notes indicate that pilots are complete, and the device is seeking approvals from UIDAI and NPCI before a wider rollout with banks and fintech partners. In India, anything that touches Aadhaar or UPI must meet strict rules. That is a good thing. It protects users and merchants, keeping the rails safe. For now, the Proxgy IoT startup launching ThumbPay is generating strong interest and buzz; broader availability will likely be phased in once approvals and partnerships are complete.
The mainstream and business press, from The Times of India to Fortune India, have covered the Proxgy Aadhaar-linked UPI device launch and the concept of “thumb becomes your wallet.” Social posts from media handles also show demos and short clips. This early attention usually helps merchants learn more quickly and request devices from their banks.
India’s payment story is special. UPI has made small payments easy. Now, devices like ThumbPay aim to make payments easier for people who were left behind by the smartphone wave. When a person can pay with a thumb, the barrier to entry drops. This is financial inclusion through biometric transaction devices in a simple line.
Also read | The Versova Beach Cleanup: Afroz Shah’s Global Environmental Movement
