Pay using your hand with Walletmor

By Mauro Mereu

What if you could pay for your groceries just by using your hand? This is now possible thanks to Walletmor, a British start-up offering a payment implant that has been tested for safety and security which ensures that it avoids any health issues or data leaks. Innovation Origins had a chat with Wojtek Paprota, Walletmor’s CEO.

What does Walletmor do?

“Walletmor is the first company in the world to develop Near-Field Communication-enabled payment implants that are accepted around the world. Our product is secure: it works like a contactless payment card and it doesn’t have a battery or power source. The implant is also safe for your health and it is body-friendly, as it was tested to prove that it has the highest level of safety standards. Our mission is to pave the way towards a new era of contactless transactions, as then you won’t have to carry any cash around with you or need a card to pay. You will always have your card with you.”

How did you come up with this idea?

“The initial idea came up while reading the book ‘Internet of People’. This book is about a scientist working on Artificial Intelligence, a futuristic story that also talked about the use of implants. The novel inspired me in doing something with that, and a payment system was the first thing that came to my mind.”

What is the biggest challenge that you face? 

“Social acceptance is the biggest challenge. Implanting something into your body is not something really common yet unless you need a device to help you fight a disease. We are facing a huge educational challenge, as we need to convey to people that it is normal, super safe, and convenient. In doing this, we are letting people know that we hold all the certificates proving that our product is good and safe, and that several studies back up our idea. Convincing people is not easy, as we are emotional beings, but sooner or later having an implant for paying will be a common thing. However, overcoming this kind of barrier is tough.”

How much does it cost?

“For the sum of €350.00, you get a complete treatment consisting of the chip implant, the activation, and the implantation. The chip is about half a millimeter thick and, including the flexible bio-shell, is about the size of a paperclip. The plastic casing is made of plastic that is also used in the medical world for similar applications.”

What’s next? What is Walletmor’s future going to be like?

“We aim to have multiple applications in our implant In the future. In your wallet, you don’t just carry your payment cards, but you also have your documents with you. That’s why we would like to let people be able to identify themselves this way at border controls, for instance, or when undergoing a medical check at a hospital. Another idea would be to make it possible to open office doors or gain access to private areas. Basically, we’d like to implement as many NFC applications as possible. Ultimately, we want it to be the bridge between physical and digital identification.”

Main image: paying with the hand implant

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