SmartCard--a Decentralized Way to Pay with Smart!

The SmartCash developers have provided us with some insight as to how the new SmartCard will function without the reliance of centralized payment processors like Visa, MasterCard and American Express. (Image created for SmartNode launch by Camakin)

Traditional Payment Channels Need Not Apply

Traditional POS Terminal--not needed (Image taken from pixabay.com)

The developers at SmartCash are working hard to fulfill their promise of a debit-like card that you can spend your SmartCash with, but it is not designed to allow you to transact in the way you might expect.

Traditional payment processing networks like Visa and MasterCard are centralized and allow users to transact on their network for a processing fee of around 3-5% per transaction. The SmartCard payment processing system will not rely on centralized payment processors and will feature 0% fees!

I think many of us thought that the technology behind the SmartCard would be based on the traditional Electronic Transfer Fund Point of Sale (EFTPOS) system.

SmartCard Will Allow You To Easily Become a Merchant

(Image taken from pixabay.com)

The concept is simple: anyone can become a SmartCash merchant by downloading and setting up the mobile app. Merchants will not need to process payments through the traditional point of sale terminals you may be familiar with. Instead, they will be able to accept SmartCash directly from customers paying with their SmartCards.

Paying with the SmartCard

To process a payment, the merchant will scan the customer's QR code on the back of the SmartCard using the SmartCash mobile app. The customer will then be prompted to enter their PIN number into the merchant's mobile device to verify the transaction.

The QR code on the back of the card will be linked to the SmartCard private key and will be encrypted by 512 bit encryption. The SmartCard user will have the ability to manage all card functionality with the mobile app. The app will enable the user to deactivate/activate their card and will feature a way to recover or backup the card in the event that it is lost or stolen.

(The QR code in the SmartCard links to my Smart wallet. If you'd like to buy me a coffee, just scan and send!)

SmartCard Roadmap

It is rumored that SmartCash users will be able to order their own plastic SmartCard; but for now, the roadmap is as follows:
1. Build the card and merchant tools for anyone
2. Generate merchant adoption
3. Work with 3rd parties

The SmartCash team is currently on the first step of the SmartCard roadmap and are building the card and merchant tools. In the next phase, merchant adoption will be promoted and implemented--this will be the most challenging phase. I was told that the plastic SmartCard will be offered at a later date by a 3rd party in the last phase of the roadmap.

For the time being, customers will need to print their own SmartCards at home. This is the best solution for now considering the SmartCard team have placed priority on bringing us a working payment network. An added benefit to printing at home is that SmartCard users will not have to depend on a middle man--allowing the SmartCash payment network to retain its decentralized nature.

Each SmartCard that the user owns can have a different PIN number assigned to it from within the user interface of the SmartCard client app, and any amount of smart can be stored and spent anywhere SmartCash is accepted.

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