Simply hold your finger about two centimeters away from the terminal—and your purchase is paid for. Slovenská sporiteľňa has announced a pilot test of a new technology that will allow its customers to pay using a miniature NFC chip embedded in their fingernails.
This innovation is designed to simplify payments for people who lead active lifestyles and don’t want to carry a wallet, phone, or even a watch—for example, while exercising or swimming.
How will the payment manicure work?
The technology is based on a miniature passive chip developed by the British company Digiseq. It is applied directly to the nail plate, after which it can be covered with any gel polish or regular nail polish, without limiting your design options.
To start using it, you need to activate the chip via a special mobile app from the provider and link it to your bank card. The process is similar to adding a card to Google Pay or Apple Pay. After that, to make a payment, simply hold your finger up to any contactless terminal in Slovakia or abroad.
The chip does not have its own battery and does not need to be charged. It draws power from the terminal’s electromagnetic field at the moment of payment, working on the same principle as a regular contactless card.
How secure is this?
The developers assure us that the security level of this method is on par with traditional contactless payments.
- Tokenization. Your actual card number and other sensitive data are not stored on the chip. Instead, the system creates a unique encrypted digital token linked only to that specific device.
- Short range. Payments can only be made at a very close distance (about 2 cm), which prevents accidental charges or data interception by attackers from a distance.
- Waterproof. The chip is completely waterproof, so you can shower, swim in a pool, or go in the ocean with it on without any problems.
- Limited lifespan. Due to natural nail growth, the chip remains effective for about 6–9 weeks. After three months, it automatically and permanently deactivates.
When, where, and how much?
Slovenská sporiteľňa is currently only testing the technology and will not sell the chips directly. They are expected to become available through third-party suppliers. They will be available either at nail salons, where a technician will professionally install the chip, or as DIY kits.
The exact launch date and cost of the service in Slovakia are not yet known. As a rough guide, one can look to Switzerland, where a similar procedure costs 10–20 francs (approximately 250–500 Czech korunas or 10–21 €).
The Future of Contactless Payments
Payment nails are part of a global trend toward so-called “passive carriers,” which transform everyday objects into payment instruments. The market for such devices is growing rapidly: according to forecasts, its volume will exceed $79 billion by 2026. In addition to nail chips, payment rings, bracelets, and keychains already exist.
As some Slovak media outlets note, the chip’s functionality may not be limited to payments alone. The technology allows other information to be stored on it as well, such as a digital business card or links to social media profiles, which can be shared simply by touching a smartphone with a finger. More details about this new product were reported on 420on.cz.
