Mastercard to phase out manual card entry in Europe by 2030

Mastercard aims to phase out the manual entry of card details for online purchases in Europe by 2030. The transition relies on tokenization, where a digital token replaces the 16-digit card number during transactions. This method enhances security, as stolen tokens are less useful than full card details.

Currently, Mastercard’s ‘Secure Card on File’ technology is active in 45 European territories, and the ‘Click to Pay’ service is available in 32 markets. Slovakia is already seeing these changes, with Tatra banka specifically mentioned as a partner in the rollout of tokenization and Click to Pay services.

In addition to tokenization, authentication methods are evolving. Static passwords and SMS codes are increasingly being replaced by passkeys, which utilize biometric verification such as fingerprints or facial recognition through trusted devices.