Licel, a prominent provider of mobile application protection technologies, has renewed its EMVCo Security Evaluation and Approval for the Licel vTEE (Virtual Trusted Execution Environment) on iOS under the Software-Based Mobile Payment (SBMP) TEE programme.
The Licel vTEE serves as a software-based secure element embedded within a mobile application, creating an isolated space for sensitive operations without depending on a hardware SE to run Trusted Applications. When combined with Licel’s broader protection suite – including DexProtector for application and runtime security and Alice Threat Intelligence for real-time risk analysis – it delivers a comprehensive defence framework for safeguarding the mobile channel and maintaining system integrity.
EMVCo, the global technical body responsible for enabling the secure deployment of card-based payment products, has reaffirmed that the Licel vTEE meets the highest international standards for mobile payment security. This endorsement helps developers create compliant and trustworthy solutions spanning mobile payments and digital identity.
“Trusted” remains the defining principle, particularly in a mobile-first environment where app-based payments and digital wallets dominate. Independent security assessments and certifications are crucial to building confidence. The Licel vTEE supports providers and developers in meeting their own compliance needs – whether EMVCo SBMP or PCI MPoC – by offering a pre-certified and reliable basis for secure cryptographic processes, protected storage, and secure execution, all without relying on hardware security modules.
Traditionally, developers working on payment wallets, digital identity platforms, and other high-security mobile applications have needed to manage separate security tools across Android, iOS and emerging ecosystems such as HarmonyOS. The Licel vTEE removes this barrier by delivering a certified, hardware-independent secure enclave: a universal, cross-platform layer for Trusted Applications. This enables developers to write critical code – including cryptographic logic, key management, and biometric authentication – once and deploy it safely and consistently across major mobile operating systems. The result is a substantially simplified development process, streamlined compliance, and faster time-to-market for secure mobile services.
“We view EMVCo evaluation and approval as a marker of our ongoing process of improvement,” said Licel co-founder and CEO, Ivan Kinash. “Every renewal, like this one for the Licel vTEE for iOS, is a reflection of our continuous collaboration with our clients and our unwavering promise to keep them ahead of emerging threats and compliance requirements.”
