Visa Inc. has agreed to acquire behavioral biometrics and fraud detection firm BioCatch for $2.4 billion in cash from private equity firm Permira and other shareholders. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of Visa's fiscal second quarter of 2027, aims to combat AI-powered scams and account takeovers that cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually. BioCatch will operate as a standalone business within Visa's Value-Added Services division under CEO Gadi Mazor.
Visa acquisition of BioCatch
- ▪The acquisition of BioCatch is expected to close by the end of Visa Inc.'s fiscal second quarter of 2027
- ▪Visa Inc. is purchasing BioCatch from funds advised by private equity firm Permira and other shareholders
- ▪Permira acquired a majority stake in BioCatch in 2024 at a $1.3 billion valuation
- ▪Visa Inc. agreed to acquire fraud intelligence provider BioCatch for $2.4 billion in cash
Behavioral biometrics technology
- ▪In 2025, BioCatch's platform analyzed $17.2 trillion in transactions and helped prevent $4 billion in fraudulent activity
- ▪BioCatch serves more than 350 banking clients globally and protects 760 million users and up to 1.8 billion devices
- ▪BioCatch's technology analyzes physical user interactions, including keystrokes, touch gestures, and device handling, to distinguish legitimate users from fraudsters in real time
AI-driven fraud threats
- ▪Visa Inc. has invested more than $13 billion in technology and infrastructure over the last five years to combat fraud
- ▪Account takeovers and scams cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually, with artificial intelligence enabling these attacks at an unprecedented scale
Post-acquisition operational continuity
- ▪BioCatch will continue to operate as a standalone business within Visa Inc., with its leadership team, reporting structure, and customer relationships remaining unchanged
- ▪BioCatch will join Visa Inc.'s Value-Added Services organization, which sells fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and analytics software
Global payments infrastructure integration
- ▪Visa Inc.'s global network connects nearly 14,500 financial institutions and processes over 329 billion transactions annually worth more than $17 trillion
- ▪Integrating BioCatch's behavioral intelligence with Visa Inc.'s global infrastructure is intended to expand fraud prevention capabilities across a broader range of transactions
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