Authentication and Brand Protection Market Report 2026

The authentication and brand protection market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.78 billion in 2025 to $4.21 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing counterfeiting incidents, rising demand for brand integrity, expansion of global supply chains, stringent government regulations on product authenticity, growth in luxury and electronics markets.

The authentication and brand protection market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.4 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to adoption of blockchain for product verification, integration of AI-powered authentication tools, rising adoption of iot-enabled supply chain monitoring, increasing demand for cloud-based authentication solutions, expansion of e-commerce and online retail channels. Major trends in the forecast period include enhanced anti-counterfeiting solutions, smart product serialization, real-time supply chain verification, mobile-based authentication tools, cloud-enabled brand protection platforms.

The growing prevalence of counterfeiting activities is contributing significantly to the expansion of the authentication and brand protection market. Counterfeiting refers to the unlawful creation, distribution, or sale of imitation goods, documents, or currency designed to replicate authentic products for financial gain or deception. This increase in counterfeit goods is largely driven by rising consumer demand for more affordable alternatives, as many people seek less expensive options to high-cost branded products. Authentication and brand protection measures play a crucial role in combating counterfeiting by confirming product authenticity, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring consumers receive legitimate goods. For example, the European Commission reported in November 2024 that police, customs, and market surveillance authorities across the European Union confiscated approximately 152 million counterfeit items in 2023, a sharp 77% rise compared to the 86 million seized in 2022. This surge underscores the growing need for effective authentication and brand protection solutions.

To address the challenge of counterfeit prevention, leading companies in the authentication and brand protection sector are developing advanced technologies such as e-Fingerprint systems to bolster product security. E-Fingerprint technology involves digital authentication methods that use unique electronic identifiers such as microchips or encoded data to verify a product’s legitimacy. In November 2023, Systech Analytics Solutions LLC, a U.S.-based provider of digital identification and traceability services, introduced an enhanced version of its UniSecure platform. This updated solution incorporates Systech’s patented e-Fingerprint technology, enabling secure, unique product authentication without altering existing packaging or barcodes. It works by generating a distinct, non-reproducible digital signature from existing packaging elements (including 1D barcodes, 2D Data Matrix codes, or QR codes), allowing for instant verification through a smartphone. Additionally, it delivers real-time alerts for counterfeiting and diversion risks and provides in-depth forensic data for swift root cause investigation all without necessitating changes to packaging or production lines.

In May 2024, Crane NXT Co., a U.S.-based security systems services provider, acquired OpSec Security. This acquisition is intended to broaden Crane NXT’s capabilities throughout the authentication value chain, creating a robust platform focused on brand and product authentication. By integrating OpSec’s expertise, Crane NXT aims to solidify its leadership in delivering reliable technology solutions that protect, detect, and authenticate valuable assets. OpSec Security Inc., based in the United Kingdom, specializes in offering services related to authentication and brand protection.

Major companies operating in the authentication and brand protection market are 3M Company, NXP Semiconductors N.V., Avery Dennison Corporation, Giesecke+Devrient GmbH, HID Global Corporation, Entrust Corporation, SICPA SA, De La Rue Plc, Corsearch Inc., Holostik India Limited, Systech Corporation, Identiv Inc., Authentix Inc., OVD Kinegram AG, WISeKey International Holding AG, Ennoventure Inc., Videojet Technologies Inc., SML Group Limited, AlpVision SA, Hira Holovision Pvt. Ltd.

North America was the largest region in the authentication and brand protection market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the authentication and brand protection market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the authentication and brand protection market report are Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.

The authentication and brand protection market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as product authentication, anti-counterfeiting services, supply chain security services, brand protection consulting, and track-and-trace services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The authentication and brand protection market also includes sales of security labels, forensic inks, tamper-proof seals and caps. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values; that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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