Eliminating QR codes, General Bytes releases Bitcoin NFC wallet card

General Bytes, a bitcoin hardware and software maker, has developed a bitcoin NFC wallet card that it hopes will replace the 22-year-old QR code and allow anyone to pay with bitcoin at a compatible point-of-sale terminal.

General Bytes’ New Bitcoin NFC Wallet Card

General Bytes was founded in 2013 and sells Bitcoin ATMs and other blockchain products. The Prague-based company was the first to apply near-field communication technology (NFC) to Bitcoin products. Recently, the company has further developed a machine that can dispense NFC wallet cards and load them with Bitcoin.

General Bytes' marketing manager Martijn Wismeijer said that QR codes will gradually be replaced by Bluetooth and NFC technology, and the newly developed NFC wallet card system simplifies the user's Bitcoin transaction experience.

The company’s BATMThree XXL+ product can dispense wallet cards, making it the industry’s first ATM with this capability. The idea was inspired by the Bitcoin wallet implants that have been implemented by the biohacking community, however, the company believes that not everyone needs such implants, and NFC cards are the best alternative.

“The idea was developed in collaboration with the bitcoin community, and we were first inspired by the biohacking community to use NFC technology,” Wismeijer said.

NFC wallet cards have been tested repeatedly

To create the NFC wallet product, the company also implemented some functional frameworks, such as WIF (Wallet Import Format). This functional framework allows the NFC wallet card to store Bitcoin keys. The company also tested the wallet card with CortexPay's POS terminal, which was launched in 2015 and is frequently used by tourists in Prague. Feneral Bytes said that the system is very reliable.

With the BATThree XXL+ machine, users can purchase wallet cards through its interface. When the device generates a wallet card, the Bitcoin key is written to the NFC wallet card. The NFC wallet card is unprogrammed before it is sold and is only programmed at the time of sale. The cards are all black, but can be designed to be printed in full color, and the operator of the ATM can pre-load the cards with a brand name.

Eliminating QR codes: Getting rid of the obsolete

General Bytes believes that this NFC wallet card is important for the future of cryptocurrency. This card does not need to be attached to your phone. It is an ideal daily payment method and small cash storage method. If this card is not used in POS devices, it can also become a physical storage account.

Currently, the BATMThree XXL+ model is available to those who operate Bitcoin ATMs. In addition, the company's hardware and software are open source. General Bytes is happy to launch such a new product, hoping to make QR codes obsolete. Marketing manager Martijn Wismeijer said:

“By eliminating QR codes in the cryptocurrency world, we not only get rid of outdated technology, but we also eliminate the need for mobile phones for most cryptocurrency applications, while simplifying the experience for end users. It’s a win-win, so let’s all work together to make 2017 the year of Bitcoin, where anyone can pay with a card for cryptocurrency. General Bytes hardware is ready for this.”