Infineon's security chip adopted for the world's first NFC payment ring.

Now, you can carry your money with you without fear of losing it, whether at the beach, while jogging, or at the gym. NFCRing has introduced the world's first EMVCo-compliant payment ring.

This payment ring features a contactless security chip from Infineon Technologies (Korea CEO Seungsoo Lee). The small, waterproof ring can be used like a contactless payment card, allowing users to simply hold their finger up to an EMVCo contactless payment terminal.

“Using the Infineon security chip, the only solution available on the market, we were able to implement an NFC payment ring that meets EMVCo’s stringent contactless performance requirements,” said Shelly Silverstein, Chief Executive Officer of NFCRing. “NFC ring users can now make payments securely and conveniently with a stylish accessory.”



In 2015, nearly half of all payment chip cards issued worldwide used Infineon's security solutions. Infineon has optimized its contactless technology to enable payment applications on ultra-small smart wearables, enabling consumers to make payments more easily and conveniently without cash.

“Infineon’s chip technology enables payments using smart wearables to be as convenient as using a traditional bank card, making them much easier to use,” said Thomas Rosteck, Vice President and General Manager of Infineon’s Chip Card & Security Business Line. “Payments based on NFC technology are rapidly growing, and payment solutions via smart wearables will further accelerate this trend.”

EMVCo, an international standard, enables global interoperability of secure payment transactions. EMVCo's six member companies (American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, UnionPay, and Visa) manage the standards and testing process.

For the first time in the world, contactless system developers have developed an EMVCo-compliant payment ring using a security chip and a passive contactless antenna. The biggest challenges during development were the ring's small surface area, small size, and unique shape. Furthermore, the lack of a battery and the requirement to transmit contactless data without removing the wearable from the finger make contactless transactions significantly more difficult.

Infineon's payment security chip communicates with the terminal via its own ultra-small passive antenna, executes secure payments, and performs cryptographic processing. The company claims that Infineon's security chip is the only solution on the market that can meet timing requirements in the millisecond range and operate at a distance of up to 4 cm from the reader.

Infineon's chip solutions enable secure payment functionality in new form factors. By adding payment capabilities to smart wearables like watches, chains, and keychains, they can offer real added value to consumers, not just as eye-catching new products. In this regard, the number of smart wearables is projected to increase from the current 119 million to 340 million by 2020 (IHS Markit 2016). Furthermore, the rapid expansion of contactless infrastructure based on the globally accepted NFC (Near Field Communication) standard is spurring the development of new business models.