Tappy

What Tappy does

Tappy Technologies Limited is a Hong Kong-incorporated, Toronto-headquartered wearable payment technology provider operating as a Wearable Token Service Provider (WTSP). The company licenses EMV tokenization infrastructure that digitizes payment credentials onto NFC-enabled secure element chips embedded in watches, rings, bracelets, fashion accessories, and other wearable form factors, enabling contactless payments at any POS terminal worldwide. Its technology stack is anchored by three granted patents (UPPU provisioning unit, BLAB battery-less hybrid chip, and NFC Watch) and dual certification from both Visa (Licensed Technology Partner, Visa Ready Wearables) and Mastercard (MDES Token Requestor/Token Service Provider), giving it a 'One for All' digital wallet credential that is rare in the industry.

The core product is Tappy Pay, which operates two programs: the Token Enablement Service (TES) for digitizing existing debit, credit, or pre-paid cards onto wearables, and the Pre-Loaded Credential (PLC) program using passive chips with pre-provisioned PANs. Beyond the platform, Tappy operates a developer kit business (UPPU Circle and UPPU Clip provisioning accessories at ~$80 per kit) and has built a catalog of more than 30 reference form factors including smart payment rings, ultra-slim wedding bands, watch clasps, payment straps for smart watches and fitness trackers, sunglasses, and biodegradable cork straps.

Tappy's business model is B2B2C, monetized through four streams: technology licensing and royalties from issuing banks (FAB, Axis Bank, IndusInd, ADIB, Consorsbank/BNP Paribas, Curve, DTB Kenya, Premier Bank Kenya), secure element chip provisioning in partnership with Thales/Gemalto, hardware sales to developers and brands, and managed tokenization services. Distribution flows through bank channels, OEM brand storefronts (Timex, boAt), and the Curve super-app across 31 EU/UK markets. The company operates with 11-50 employees and serves customers across North America, APAC, and EMEA, with no public funding rounds disclosed to date.

Name

Tappy

Legal name

Tappy Technologies Limited

Website

https://tappytech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tappy Technologies is a wearable payment technology provider that licenses EMV tokenization infrastructure and secure element chips to banks (FAB, Axis Bank, IndusInd) and consumer brands (Timex, boAt), enabling contactless payments via rings, watches, bands, and other wearable form factors across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wearable Payment Technology

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Wallets (NFC Tap-to-Pay / HCE) (FSAMAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

mPOS & SoftPOS (Tap-to-Phone) Solutions (FSAMADAB), Embedded Payments (Pay-ins, Pay-outs, Wallets) (FSAGALAB)

Keywords

• Wearable payment technology
• EMV tokenization services
• Contactless payment wearables
• Payment card digitization
• Wearable fintech platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing to Banks: Licenses tokenization technology and platform to banks for white-label wearable payment programs. Banks use Tappy's infrastructure to offer branded wearable payment devices to their customers (e.g., FAB Wearables, Axis Bank Wear 'N' Pay, Indus PayWear).
2. Hardware Sales (Developer Kits): Sells developer kits including payment rings and provisioning units (UPPU Circle/Clip) to brands and developers for integration and testing purposes.
3. Secure Element Chip Provisioning: Provides and provisions secure element chips embedded in wearables that enable payment tokenization. Chips are embedded by consumer brands into their products.
4. Tokenization Platform Services: Provides token requestor and token service provider capabilities, enabling partners' wearable devices for instantaneous payments. Certified by Visa and Mastercard as 'One for All' digital wallet solution provider.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tappy Technologies provides a wearable tokenization platform (Tappy Pay) that enables payment cards to be digitized into watches, jewellery, fashion accessories, bands, and other wearables via NFC-enabled secure element chips and EMV tokenization standards. The company licenses this tokenization technology and secure element chip provisioning to banks (for branded wearable payment programs) and consumer brands (for OEM/embedded payment-enabled products), supported by a Developer Kit and patented UPPU provisioning accessories.

Product overview

Tappy Technologies is a wearable payment technology provider operating as a Wearable Token Service Provider (WTSPTM). The company provides turnkey solutions for the timepiece and jewellery industry to enable secure, trustworthy, and convenient global contactless payments. Tappy's core platform is Tappy Pay (Wearable Token Service Platform), which comprises two programs: the Token Enablement Service (TES) for digitizing existing cards onto wearables, and the Pre-Loaded Credential (PLC) Program using pre-provisioned card numbers. The company's developer offerings include the Developer Kit with patented UPPU Circle and UPPU Clip provisioning accessories. Tappy's extensive product portfolio encompasses over 30 wearable payment form factors including Smart Payment Rings, Fitness Rings, Ultra Slim Wedding Bands, Watch Clasps, Watch Loops, Watch Straps, Wayfarer Sunglasses, Payment Coffee Cups, Glitter Bracelets, Glow Bands, Silicone Bands, Country Bands, Sports Bracelets, Leather Bracelets, Ceramic Bangles, Biodegradable Straps, Key Fobs, Bag Charms, Phone Holders, Phone Grips, Stickers, and payment-enabled Analogue Watches. All solutions achieve global EMV standards and work at any contactless POS terminal worldwide. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada with operations spanning North America, APAC, and EMEA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tappy Pay: Wearable tokenization solution enabling contactless payments through tokenized payment cards on wearable devices
• Tappy TES Program
• Tappy PLC Program
• UPPU

Products and services

• Tappy Pay (Wearable Token Service Platform) Tappy's core tokenization platform that connects to multiple issuing banks and card networks (Visa, Mastercard, China UnionPay) to enable secure, EMV-compliant tokenization of payment cards onto wearable form factors for contactless payments at any NFC POS terminal worldwide. Certified by Visa and Mastercard as a "One for All" digital wallet solution provider.
• Token Enablement Service (TES) Program Infrastructure service enabling end users to digitize their existing credit, debit, or pre-paid cards into secure element chips embedded in wearable devices, activating secure contactless payments at any compatible POS terminal.
• Pre-Loaded Credential (PLC) Program Passive chip solution providing pre-provisioned PAN from an issuer partner representing a pre-paid debit card account, with a flexible passive chip that can be embedded within watch straps or flexible wearable devices for out-of-the-box contactless payments.
• Tappy Developer Kit (Payment Ring + UPPU Circle) Hardware developer kit enabling brands, OEMs, and developers to prototype and integrate Tappy's payment technology into wearable products; sold via Tappy's e-commerce store for $80 per Payment Ring + UPPU Circle package.
• UPPU Circle (Universal Passive Provisioning Unit) Patented provisioning accessory that digitizes payment credentials into payment rings within seconds; designed as part of the Developer Kit and supplied to brands integrating Tappy's technology.
• UPPU Clip (Universal Passive Provisioning Unit) Patented "anytime, anyplace, any-smartphone" provisioning clip that enables payment credentials to be digitized into wearables, supporting payment cards, access cards, loyalty cards, transit passes, and event passes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Works at millions of contactless merchants globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025FAB launched high-performance payment bands (December 2025) and FAB Fitness Payment Ring (January 2026) in partnership with Mastercard, Tappy, and Thales. Rings feature Thales secure chips and Tappy's tokenization technology. Available through FAB online and retail banking channels worldwide.
• CurvecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 April 2023Partnership announced April 2023 to make Tappy Pay available across 31 countries in EU and UK. Curve customers can link their digital wallet to bank accounts and tokenize into Tappy-enabled wearables through the Curve app.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or Integration · 11 November 2019Strategic partnership formed during Singapore Fintech Festival (November 2019) to bring wearable payment technology to the fashion accessories market. Tappy integrates its patented technology platform with Mastercard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) tokenization platform for tokenizing payment credentials across watches and accessories for contactless payments accepting Mastercard merchants.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationTappy is a Licensed Visa Technology Partner (Vendor ID: TAPP-86415) with Compliance Recognition Granted. Offers Visa Ready Wearables. VDEP agreement with Visa signed (June 2018). Enables wearable payment solutions for Visa contactless transactions globally.
• ThalescoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides miniaturized secure element chips for Tappy's wearable payment solutions. Thales Gemalto FlexiTag technology is invisibly integrated into wearables enabling contactless payments. Long-standing partnership including recognition as Gemalto's Banking & Payment Partner 2018.
• Axis BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched Wear 'N' Pay wearable payment devices (March 2021) and Wave Fortune smartwatch (June 2025) in partnership with Thales and Tappy. Range includes wristbands, keychains, and watch straps at Rs. 750. Available via phone banking and branches across India.
• IndusInd BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to launch Indus PayWear (March 2024), India's first tokenization solution for wearable payments. Powered by Thales Secure Element Chip. Enables customers to digitize cards through Indus PayWear App into rings, watch clasps, and stickers.
• Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched ADIB PAY (December 2022), region's first token payment enabled wearables in partnership with Tappy Technologies and Visa.
• boAt LifestylecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerIndian wearable brand partner for Axis Bank Wave Fortune smartwatch launch (June 2025). Designed the Crest Pay app combining fitness tracking with contactless payment features.
• TimexcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerStrategic partnership to integrate tokenized wearable payment technology into Timex timepieces. Historic breakthrough enabling traditional watches to accept contactless payments. Partnership with Chase, Visa, and Thales.
• Consorsbank (BNP Paribas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTappy Pay live in Germany (December 2022) enabling Consorsbank users to tokenize Visa Debit & Credit cards through Tappy Pay App into Tappy-enabled form factors for contactless payments.
• Gemalto (Thales)coreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal MOU signed with Gemalto N.V. Recognized as Gemalto's registered vendor (authorized chip embedder) and Banking & Payment Partner 2018.
• China UnionPaycoreTechnology or IntegrationLetter of Agreement signed with China UnionPay (June 11, 2019) enabling Tappy's entry into the Chinese market for wearable payments.
• Etisalat DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring wearable payment and access technology to UAE market (October 2018).
• Time House Trading L.L.C.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership agreement signed at Belt And Road Summit 2023 to offer innovative wearable payment solutions in Middle East and South Asia markets.
• Expresspay CardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Cooperation Framework Agreement enabling Tappy's entry into the Chinese market (May 2017). Official agreement signed December 3, 2018.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Curve: Curve is a financial super app that consolidates multiple payment cards into a single card and app. Curve partners with Tappy to enable customers to tokenize cards into Tappy-enabled wearables across 31 EU/UK countries, making it both a partner and a comparable platform addressing similar wearable/digital payment aggregation use cases.
• MatchMove: MatchMove is a Singapore-based B2B digital payments and banking-as-a-service platform that issues virtual and physical cards and enables tokenized payment solutions. It has been mentioned as a partner in Tappy's history and operates in overlapping tokenization-for-wearables and embedded payment infrastructure segments.
• Token (formerly Tokenize): Token is a payment tokenization and account-to-account payment platform operating in adjacent wearable/digital payment infrastructure. It provides token requestor services and payment network integration comparable to Tappy's Tappy Pay platform for issuers and brands seeking digital payment enablement.
• FitPay (NXT-ID / Tokenology): FitPay was a wearable payment platform acquired by NXT-ID, providing tokenization services for IoT and wearable devices to issuers and device makers. It was a direct competitor in the wearable payment tokenization infrastructure space serving similar banks, OEMs, and card networks.

Broad incumbents

• Apple Pay: Apple Pay is the dominant mobile and wearable payment platform, integrated across iPhones and Apple Watches. While Apple Pay is vertically integrated rather than a licensing platform, it competes for the same contactless tap-to-pay use cases and shapes consumer expectations around wearable payment experiences.
• Samsung Pay: Samsung Pay offers contactless payments on Samsung Galaxy phones and smartwatches (Galaxy Watch). As a broad incumbent in mobile payments, it competes for consumer wallet share and OEM integration positions relevant to Tappy's wearable payment enablement business.
• IDEMIA: IDEMIA is a global leader in payment cards, secure elements, and identity solutions, providing chip technology and tokenization infrastructure for issuers. It operates as a broad incumbent in adjacent payment security and card infrastructure segments that overlap with Tappy's secure element and tokenization capabilities.
• Google Pay (incl. Fitbit Pay): Google Pay (with Fitbit Pay integrated post-acquisition) provides tap-to-pay across Android phones and Wear OS / Fitbit smartwatches. As a broad incumbent in mobile and wearable payments, it competes for the same consumer payment occasions and OEM wallet slots that Tappy's B2B platform enables.
• Garmin Pay: Garmin Pay is the contactless payment feature built into Garmin smartwatches, enabling tap-to-pay transactions via tokenized cards. While Garmin owns its own payment stack rather than licensing to other brands, it represents a broad incumbent in the wearable payment category competing for similar consumer use cases.

Others

• Thales (Digital Identity & Security): Thales is a strategic technology partner to Tappy, providing the miniaturized secure element chips (Gemalto FlexiTag) embedded in Tappy's wearable products. As a critical supplier and adjacent payment security provider, Thales is highly comparable in the broader secure payment infrastructure space even though it is not a direct competitor in wearable tokenization licensing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCETfYpPXV4a9uTwoUF2fzYw
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/tappytech
• Xx.com/tappytech

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tappy