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Cembra Mastercard Gold
About Smart Chip
The Smart Chip is a tiny chip that is securely attached to your fingernail. Think of it as a wallet that is always with you, no matter what.
The Smart Chip can store your payment card for easy, convenient contactless payments. It can also hold your digital business card, including your social media accounts, for quick and simple sharing of your contact information. In the future, additional features such as digital keys will be available. You decide which functions you want to use.
Unlike cash, cards, or smartphones, the Smart Chip is always with you — even when you have nothing else on you, like at the pool, beach, or gym. Even if you do have your phone or wallet, paying with Smart Chip is faster and more convenient: there’s nothing to take out or unlock. The Smart Chip also offers added security: It can’t be lost, stolen, or read by others, and it never has to be handed over. This keeps your data safe and private at all times.
Currently, the following cards are compatible:
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Cembra Mastercard Premium
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Certo! Mastercard World
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Certo! One Mastercard World
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Confo’Card Mastercard
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Corner Card Mastercard
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Curve
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Fnac Mastercard
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IKEA Family Kreditkarte
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LIPO Mastercard
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PostFinance
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SPAR Mastercard World
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Swiss Bankers Life Digital
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TCS Member Mastercard
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TCS Travel Mastercard Gold
We are working with banks to provide more and more cards in the future.
We are working with banks to bring as many payment cards as possible to the Smart Chip. If your payment card isn’t currently supported, we recommend ordering a Swiss Bankers Life Digital Card in the Swiss Bankers app. This is a virtual prepaid card that you can connect to the Smart Chip and top up with credit via your credit card, debit card, or bank transfer.
Download the Swiss Bankers App:
The Life Digital card is free for 3 months. After that, it costs CHF 2.90/month.
The Smart Chip is inactive most of the time. It has no battery and cannot send a signal on its own. It only becomes active when placed near an NFC reader. The reader provides the energy needed and activates the appropriate function depending on the type of reader. For example, a payment terminal triggers the payment function, while a smartphone activates the business card function.
The Smart Chip is applied by trained nail professionals in nail studios and other certified businesses. You can find all studios and points of sale that offer the Smart Chip in the Studiofinder.
The Smart Chip is applied in a simple three-step process:
- Your natural nail is coated with a layer of gel varnish. This creates a protective base between your nail and the Smart Chip and ensures strong adhesion.
- The Smart Chip is applied.
- Another layer of gel varnish seals it, protecting it from water, dirt, and scratches.
The entire process takes only about 5 to 10 minutes. After that, you can leave the Smart Chip visible or apply a nail color on top. You can even choose a shade that matches your natural nail, making the Smart Chip almost invisible.
The Smart Chip grows naturally with your nail. When it’s applied, you’ll receive a file set so you can shorten your nail as usual. After about 6 to 9 weeks, the Smart Chip will have grown too far forward to be shortened again. At that point, it’s time for a new one. The exact timing depends on how long you prefer to keep your nails. Your nail salon will remove and safely destroy the old Smart Chip before applying a new one.
Yes, any nail color system can be applied over the Smart Chip without affecting its function. Even special colors like metallics or cat eye are no problem.
Yes, you have two options:
- You can leave the Smart Chip visible on the nail with either a glossy or a matte finish.
- You can use a so-called “camouflage”: Nail professionals use a nail polish color that matches the color of your natural nails. This makes the Smart Chip almost invisible.
We normally recommend applying the Smart Chip to the thumb. It is the largest nail, which provides the best adhesion. However, the Smart Chip can be placed on any fingernail that is large enough.
Yes. After about 6 to 9 weeks, the Smart Chip has outgrown the nail and needs to be removed. The exact duration depends on what length of fingernail you’re comfortable with. The longer you let your fingernails grow, the longer the Smart Chip will last.
For security reasons, the lifespan of a Smart Chip is limited to 3 months. After that, it will have to be replaced even if it is still attached.
No. The chip is firmly attached to the fingernail and is completely destroyed when it is removed.
Yes, the Smart Chip is coated with a gel varnish that makes it waterproof and protects it from dust and other external influences. You can wash your hands, bathe and swim, do sports, etc. without any restrictions.
No, the Smart Chip has no problems with either cold or heat and can withstand both longer than the fingers themselves.
The Smart Chip is securely attached to your fingernail. In the rare event that it comes loose, you can simply deactivate it in the app and make an appointment to attach a new chip.
Some areas under development are digital keys for homes, offices and cars, public transportation tickets, personal identification and much more.
Activating and using the Smart Chip
The Smart Chip is managed through the Smart Chip App. Activation is usually done at the studio when you receive your Smart Chip. Make sure to download the app and create an account before your appointment.
The app guides you through the process step by step:
- Activate your Smart Chip in the app. This connects it to your account, ensuring that no one else can use it. This is usually done while your Smart Chip is applied in the studio.
- Select “Enter credit card” on the home screen. If you have multiple active Smart Chips, swipe to the one you want to use.
- Choose your card from the list of supported cards. If your card isn’t listed, we recommend using a Swissbankers Life Digital prepaid card.
- Enter your card details: card number, expiration date, and security code.
- Send your card info to the Smart Chip. Hold the Smart Chip to your phone’s NFC reader and keep it in place until the process is complete. Your card info is encrypted during this step.
- Activate your card for contactless payments. Depending on your card and bank, you may do this with a text code, an app, or a call. The Smart Chip app will show all available options. Just choose the one you prefer.
- Done! Your Smart Chip is now ready for contactless payments.
The app guides you through the process step by step:
- Activate your Smart Chip in the app. This connects it to your account, ensuring that no one else can use it. This is usually done while your Smart Chip is applied in the studio.
- Select “Add Business Card” on the home screen. If you have multiple active Smart Chips, swipe to the one you want to use.
- Add or select a business card. Click “Add Business Card” to create a new one, or choose an existing card from the list.
- Enter your details. You only need to fill out the information you want to share.
- Save your card. Scroll down and tap “Save.”
- Done! Your business card is now on your Smart Chip and ready to be shared.
The NFC reader is located in different places depending on the phone model. On iPhones, it’s usually found in the center of the top edge. On Android devices, it’s often positioned below the camera, toward the middle of the back. When connecting your Smart Chip, move it slowly over the back of your phone until a connection is established.
To pay with your Smart Chip, you first need to have a credit or debit card linked in the Smart Chip app. See here how to do that.
Once that’s done, simply hold your finger to the NFC reader at the checkout — just like a contactless card or smartphone payment.
The Smart Chip can be deactivated for two reasons:
- EU Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2)
To comply with PSD2 regulations, your Smart Chip is automatically deactivated if you make several consecutive low-value transactions (under €50) that together exceed €150. To reactivate it, simply verify your identity again in the SC app. - Security measure after 3 months
After 3 months, the Smart Chip is deactivated for good. This is a safety measure to prevent fraud.
For safety reasons, we don’t store your card details anywhere. When you add your payment card to a Smart Chip, your card details are encrypted, sent to the Smart Chip, and deleted from the app. This ensures the highest standards of safety.
To maintain the highest level of security, you can only reactivate your Smart Chip through the SC app on your own phone. This ensures that no one else can access your account or trigger payments without authorization.
Smart Chip works with all terminals that accept contactless credit card payments.
Currently, the following cards are accepted:
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Cembra Mastercard Gold
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Cembra Mastercard Premium
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Certo! Mastercard World
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Certo! One Mastercard World
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Confo’Card Mastercard
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Corner Card Mastercard
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Curve
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Fnac Mastercard
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IKEA Family Kreditkarte
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LIPO Mastercard
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PostFinance
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SPAR Mastercard World
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Swiss Bankers Life Digital
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TCS Member Mastercard
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TCS Travel Mastercard Gold
We are working with banks to provide more and more cards in the future.
You can add, deactivate and remove cards in the Smart Chip app.
The Smart Chip follows the same rules as your payment card. If your card requires a PIN for a payment, your Smart Chip will too.
Yes, you can deactivate the payment function in the app. Swipe to your Smart Chip, tap your card, and turn off the slider next to “Active.” You can reactivate it anytime.
You can also remove the payment card completely by tapping “Remove.” If you do this, you’ll need to link the card again to use it with your Smart Chip.
Health & Safety
No. The Smart Chip can only be activated when it is very close to a reader. Its range is just 2 cm, so accidental payments are virtually impossible. You are always in control when using it.
No. The Smart Chip has neither GPS nor batteries. It is inactive until it is near an NFC reader.
No. The Smart Chip has no microphone and no batteries.
Your card data is never stored by us, neither directly on the Smart Chip nor in the app. Instead, an encrypted token is created that can only be used on your Smart Chip.
The Smart Chip uses the same security measures as other payment methods. Additionally, no card data is stored on the chip itself; instead, your card information is converted into a token. This token only works with your Smart Chip and cannot be used on any other device. Data for other functions is also protected according to the highest security standards.
We use the highest security standards to ensure the security of all your data.
The Smart Chip app is protected with a PIN or your biometric data. In addition, the app cannot be used for payments without your Smart Chip.
When your Smart Chip is removed, it is completely destroyed and cannot be read or reused in any way. This ensures that all data stored on it is permanently inaccessible. Your privacy and security remain fully protected.
No, this information is not stored on the Smart Chip or in the app.
No. The Smart Chip is made of non-toxic materials.
The Smart Chip is protected under a durable layer of gel varnish, but it can be damaged if the nail is filed incorrectly or clipped. That’s why the Smart Chip nail should never be clipped. Instead, use the nail file set you receive when applying the chip in the studio. Filing into the chip will damage it as well. If the chip has grown so far up your nail that you can’t file safely without touching it, it’s time to replace it with a new Smart Chip.
Even if the chip is damaged, it is completely inert — it cannot explode, catch fire, or cause harm. A damaged chip can simply be replaced at your nail studio.
No. The Smart Chip is completely inert and contains no battery or chemicals that could react. If your nail is hurt in an accident, the chip cannot explode, catch fire, or cause any harm. It is fully safe even in these situations.
No. The Smart Chip does not contain a battery and cannot generate heat. It is completely safe to wear on your nail.
All materials used to apply the Smart Chip comply with strict health and safety requirements. However, as with any cosmetic product, allergic reactions are possible. If you have any concerns, please consult your doctor or ask at the nail salon before your appointment.
No, the Smart Chip is completely passive. It has no battery and no antenna of its own. It only becomes active when very close to an NFC reader, within a range of about 2 cm. This means it cannot interfere with pacemakers, airplanes, or any other devices.
The Smart Chip is completely passive and safe in medical settings. It does not interfere with MRI scans — your data remains intact, and the chip does not heat up. It is also safe for X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and other imaging procedures.
In everyday situations, the Smart Chip will not trigger metal detectors or security scanners. Its range is extremely short (around 2 cm), so it only becomes active when deliberately held near an NFC reader.
Sustainability
The chips are produced by Infineon Technologies AG at three locations: Austria, Germany and Malaysia.
The Smart Chip consists mainly of silicone. In addition, only very small quantities (<0.01mg) of titanium, gold, nickel, copper and polyamide are used.
No. The Smart Chip is firmly integrated into the nail system and is completely destroyed when removed. It also contains only very small amounts of materials such as copper or gold, so recycling these chips is not practical.
About Smart Chip Switzerland
Smart Chip Switzerland AG is the company behind the Smart Chip.
Smart Chip Switzerland AG was founded in 2013 when CEO Claude Niedermann had the initial idea for the Smart Chip.
For press or media inquiries, please contact us at media@smart-chip.com
You can also find our latest press releases in the Newsroom and download logos, images, and other assets from our Media Kit.
Smart Chip Partner
Only certified businesses are allowed to offer the Smart Chip. Read more on how to become a Smart Chip partner here.
Everything you need to know is explained on the SC Partner page.