Stripe, a leading financial infrastructure platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with CLEAR, the biometric verification company, to manage payment operations across CLEAR’s service portfolio, including its CLEAR Plus membership program that provides expedited identity verification at airports.
Under the partnership, CLEAR is implementing Stripe Billing to handle subscription management for its millions of customers. The modern billing system provides the flexibility and scalability needed to efficiently process a high volume of subscriptions. The integration comes as CLEAR continues to expand beyond its core airport security services, having recently entered the financial services market through strategic acquisitions.
The integration encompasses support for multiple payment methods, including digital wallets, and streamlines both one-time payments and recurring subscription billing. Stripe now processes in-app enrollments for CLEAR Plus and handles card payments through Stripe Terminal at CLEAR’s facial recognition pods in airports, which were introduced in November 2024. The pods represent the latest evolution in CLEAR’s biometric authentication infrastructure, which has been operating in major U.S. airports for over a decade.
To enhance security and protect revenue, CLEAR has implemented Stripe Radar for fraud mitigation and reduction of false declines during checkout. The system continuously analyzes user interactions to optimize authorization rates, adding an additional layer of security to CLEAR’s already robust biometric verification platform.
“Just as CLEAR makes confirming your identity seamless and secure, Stripe is helping us make billing and payments effortless—allowing us to focus on delivering frictionless experiences for our members,” said CLEAR CEO Caryn Seidman Becker. Under Seidman Becker’s leadership, CLEAR has significantly expanded its services beyond airports to include venues, healthcare facilities, and now payment authentication.
The partnership emerges amid industry discussions about the potential for broader adoption of biometric authentication in retail environments. The concept of reusable biometric credentials could enable consumers to use the same credentials for both airport security and retail purchases, potentially accelerating wider adoption of biometric technologies. The trend matches the growing industry movement toward decentralized identity solutions and the increasing integration of biometric authentication in everyday transactions.
Sources: Payments Journal, Stripe Newsroom, Glenbrook
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