A global surge in investment is signaling that identity verification (IDV) is becoming a critical layer of cyber defense, particularly within the financial sector. According to a new survey from Regula, banks, fintechs, and crypto platforms are leading a trend of dramatically increasing their IDV budgets to combat sophisticated threats like deepfakes and to build foundational digital trust in an AI-driven economy.
A Regula survey reveals a sharp rise in identity verification (IDV) budgets globally.
Banks are leading, with 15% planning to increase IDV budgets by more than 50%.
Fintech and crypto sectors are close behind, with ~17% planning similar increases.
The trend is spreading to aviation and healthcare as IDV becomes core infrastructure.
The US leads the surge, with 22% of companies planning 50%+ budget hikes.
The shift is driven by the need to fight deepfake fraud and ensure compliance.
The data shows a significant uptick in planned spending, especially for major budget increases. The share of banks intending to boost their IDV budgets by more than 50% has nearly tripled, from 4.4% to 15%, in just two years. This trend is mirrored in the fintech and crypto sectors, where approximately 17% of organizations are now planning similar major budget hikes. Beyond these dramatic increases, moderate budget growth of 10-20% is becoming commonplace across financial services.
While the financial sector is at the forefront, the recognition of IDV's importance is spreading. The survey indicates that aviation companies are close behind financial firms, with 17% also planning 50%+ budget increases. Healthcare organizations are beginning to follow, albeit at a more moderate pace. Across all industries, nearly half of businesses are preparing for double-digit growth in their IDV spending.
“Executives have finally woken up to the deepfake economy,” said Henry Patishman, Executive Vice President of Identity Verification Solutions at Regula. “They’re realizing that identity verification isn’t a cost of doing business anymore, but a growth engine. Just as cybersecurity became non-negotiable a decade ago, identity verification is now core infrastructure for trust in the AI era.”
The budget increases reflect a fundamental shift in how companies view identity verification. It is evolving from a tactical compliance requirement into a strategic enabler of digital trust. Nearly a quarter of companies now believe IDV must become the core of their trust management strategy, and over a quarter want it fully integrated across departments from onboarding to customer support.
The survey data underscores a pivotal moment for digital business. As AI-powered threats like deepfakes become more prevalent, organizations are making foundational investments in identity verification, positioning it as essential infrastructure for secure growth, customer trust, and regulatory compliance.
About Regula
Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed.
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