IDEMIA Secure Transactions: Shift to tokenization to drive secure payments in 2026

“Many markets are looking to modernize their payment infrastructure quickly, and as one of the world’s largest Token Service Provider, IST is well positioned to support that transition,” says Amaanie Hakim, Vice President Innovation and Intellectual Property at IDEMIA Secure Transactions.

While there are many secure payment providers today in the market, not all of them have started applying AI capabilities to enhance their threat detection and protection. For IDEMIA Secure Transactions, ensuring secure payment and connectivity remains their goal as it looks to innovate more with its clients around the world.

According to Amaanie Hakim, Vice President Innovation and Intellectual Property at IDEMIA Secure Transactions, IDEMIA Secure Transactions (IST) continues to evolve to anticipate threats and protect what matters most.

In 2026, Hakim believes cybersecurity will see greater importance, especially with the increase of AI-based threats as well as innovations in quantum computing requiring organizations to have more secure ecosystems.

“Today, as Quantum Computing and AI accelerate the sophistication of cyber-attacks, our mission is clear: lead the industry into a post-quantum era. That means investing heavily in advanced cryptography and delivering solutions like IDEMIA Sphere, our comprehensive cybersecurity offer with crypto-libraries, HSMs, crypto-agility, and post-quantum consultancy. These are just the first steps in helping banks, telcos, IoT players, and automakers secure their ecosystems for the long term,” said Hakim.

At the same time, Hakim pointed out that IST is responding to growing demand for user-centric and sustainable products such as premium and customized payment cards, mobile-first experiences, and credentials designed with recycled or eco-friendly materials.

“Everything we do aims to make payments and connectivity simpler, smarter, and more secure, because that’s what users expect everywhere in the world. And in 2026, we’ll go even further: working and co-innovating with our clients to create unique offers that are seamless, highly personalized, and - above all - secure. From mass issuance of distinctive cards and digital credentials to leveraging data and AI and advancing post-quantum cryptography research, we’re shaping trusted experiences for an increasingly connected world,” said Hakim.

Opportunities in 2026

Given that Asia continues to see major opportunities driven by rapid digital transformation, Hakim stated that one of the most significant is the acceleration of digital payments, particularly the shift to tokenization and contactless. She explained that many markets are looking to modernize their payment infrastructure quickly, and as one of the world’s largest Token Service Provider, IST is well positioned to support that transition. Tokenization adoption is growing fast, and it allows banks and domestic networks to leapfrog straight into more secure, more convenient payment experiences.

“We also see huge potential in connected mobility and the broader IoT ecosystem. Our recent partnership with Infineon to deliver secure, cloud-enabled digital car access shows how fast the adoption curve is moving. As Asia-Pacific markets invest in Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), IoT deployments and 5G, having secure, scalable connectivity, from credentials to tokenization to embedded software, becomes essential. That’s where IST brings real value,” explained Hakim.

With the cybersecurity market also expected to grow at a double-digit pace annually, Hakim added that rising threats, new regulations and the pressing transition to post-quantum cryptography, organizations in finance, telecom and IoT are looking for partners like IST, who can help them build resilient infrastructure based on state-of-the-art technology.

But these opportunities also come with its fair number of challenges. Hakim believes that one of the biggest challenges in 2026 for organizations will be keeping up with cybersecurity risks while modernizing legacy infrastructure.

“Preparing for the post-quantum era means upgrading cryptographic systems, hardware, and networks: a complex, multi-layered process that demands time, coordination, and expertise. AI adds another dimension. While it unlocks enormous opportunities, it also amplifies risks. AI can make cyber-attacks more sophisticated and scalable. Phishing, fraud, and identity-related threats can spread faster when AI is misused,” said Hakim.

On the longer run, Hakim also feels that Model Collapse is also a growing concern as the performance of an AI model trained on AI-generated content (which could embed errors) would generate always more inaccurate results.

“The real danger isn’t an “AI bubble,” but an over-reliance on AI without reinforcing the foundations beneath it, whether in terms of security, control of the sources, or ethical considerations. For IST and for our customers, the priority is clear: continue to innovate leveraging our technology expertise, in particular in cryptography, tokenization, as well as our deep understanding of payment infrastructures and secure connectivity, while anchoring every advancement in strong, future-proof security. The organizations that succeed will be the ones that combine innovation with trust,” she concluded.