Every time you sign up for a bank account or online service, someone has to check your ID — and it's usually slow, expensive, and keeps copies of your documents on company servers where they can get hacked. This project built a phone app that scans your ID, matches your face, and confirms you're real — all automatically using blockchain so no company stores your personal data. Think of it like a digital bouncer that checks IDs at the door instantly, without keeping a photocopy in a filing cabinet that thieves could break into.
Online businesses lose millions to identity fraud and spend up to 100€ per manual KYC check, with enrollment delays stretching to 12 days — driving away legitimate customers. Meanwhile, storing ID documents on company servers creates breach liability, with the average breach costing €3.1 million. Companies need fast, affordable identity verification that doesn't create a honeypot of personal data.
Authenteq built a fully automated identity verification service using blockchain and biometrics. Concrete deliverables include iOS and Android mobile apps (on app stores), a merchant portal, an SDK for integration, API documentation, a fake ID detection database, and the service passed both GDPR compliance audit and ISO 27001 certification.
If you are a digital bank or payment provider spending up to 100€ per manual KYC check and losing customers during 12-day enrollment delays — this project built a 100% automated identity verification service with biometric matching and blockchain-secured data. It eliminates manual review, cuts onboarding to seconds, and removes the liability of storing ID documents on your servers.
If you are a marketplace like a ride-sharing or rental platform dealing with fraudulent accounts and identity theft — this project developed an SDK and mobile apps (iOS and Android) that verify user identity in real time using computer vision forensics and a fake ID database. With e-commerce growing at 15.9% CAGR, automated identity checks protect your platform without slowing down user registration.
If you are an insurance company or RegTech firm needing to verify customer identities for anti-money laundering compliance — this project delivered a GDPR-compliant, ISO 27001-certified automated KYC service with API integration. It handles compulsory identity checks without building expensive in-house verification teams, reducing the average €3.1 million risk exposure from data breaches.
The project data states that traditional KYC checks cost up to 100€ per check. Authenteq's automated service aims to drastically reduce this by eliminating manual review entirely. Specific pricing for the Authenteq service is not disclosed in the project data — contact the provider for current rates.
Yes — the system is 100% automated with no manual steps, which means it scales without adding headcount. The project delivered production-ready iOS and Android apps on app stores, an SDK for integration, and a merchant portal for managing verifications at volume.
Authenteq EHF (Iceland) coordinated the project and owns the core technology. The project delivered an SDK and API documentation for third-party integration, suggesting a licensing or SaaS model. Based on available project data, specific licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with Authenteq.
The project explicitly delivered a GDPR compliance audit certificate and an ISO 27001 certificate issued by AWS. The blockchain architecture means personal data is not stored on company servers, which directly addresses data protection requirements under European regulations.
The project delivered an SDK (Authenteq SDK), API documentation, and a merchant portal — all standard integration tools. Based on available project data, the system was designed for plug-and-play integration with online services, though specific integration timelines depend on your existing infrastructure.
The system addresses both stolen legitimate IDs and fabricated fake IDs. It uses biometric user authentication (face matching), computer vision forensics for document analysis, and maintains a fake ID database. This covers the main fraud vectors: identity theft from the 1.9 billion records stolen in 2017 and synthetic identity fraud.
The project ran from 2019 to 2020 and is now closed. Deliverables included live apps on iOS and Android app stores and an online demo page. Based on available project data, current availability should be verified directly via the project website at authenteq.com.
This is a lean, fully commercial consortium — 2 SME partners across Iceland and Germany, with zero universities or research organizations. The 100% industry ratio signals this was always about building a market-ready product, not academic research. Authenteq EHF from Iceland led the project, and the SME Instrument Phase 2 grant of €1,231,125 is specifically reserved for companies scaling proven innovations toward commercialization. The small team and focused scope suggest a startup moving fast to capture market share in automated identity verification.
Authenteq EHF is based in Iceland. Contact their business team through authenteq.com for partnership or licensing inquiries.
Want to explore how automated KYC technology can reduce your verification costs? SciTransfer can connect you with the right people — contact us for a tailored introduction.
