The Nio Card is here to help you spend your Bitcoin fortunes

By Andy Boxall Published October 28, 2020

Smart cards seem to have risen in popularity recently, with the announcement of the well-received Coin card earlier this month being one of the most recent to catch our interest. It’s not the only thing rising either, as the Bitcoin digital currency has also rocketed in value, so it makes sense for someone to bring the two together. Bluenio’s Nio Card is looking for crowd-funding success on Kickstarter at the moment, and will help all those new Bitcoin millionaires spend their fortunes.

The headline feature of the Nio Card is its ability to transfer Bitcoin payments using NFC. A tap of the card against an NFC-enabled smartphone is enough to send or receive BitCoins, and for added security, no transactions are possible unless it’s connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. No worries about it being stolen and the thief draining your Bitcoin account. As both the card and your phone are linked together, either one will sound an alarm should they drop out of range.

Recommended Videos

A suite of Nio-specific apps can be accessed on your phone, including ones which control the alert and remote location features, plus customizable reminders and a secure locker for personal information. A software development kit will be supplied to developers, so expect more apps to come in the future. Thanks to various sensors built into the Nio Card, it could potentially become a fitness tracker, or a key to open NFC-secured doors.

In the future, Bluenio wants to sign-up Google Wallet and PayPal, expanding the wireless payments option beyond Bitcoin. However, if a retailer near you takes Bitcoin through a wireless terminal, there’s a good chance the Nio Card will work straight away.

The anodised metal card is 4mm thick and around the same size as a regular credit card, so it’ll fit in your wallet. It comes with 2GB of storage space for any data you’d like to securely store, and the battery should last for nine months before needing a recharge. The card costs $65 and is expected to launch in March next year. Whether your Bitcoins will still have any value at that time, remains to be seen.

Former Senior Mobile Writer

Andy has written about mobile technology for almost a decade. From 2G to 5G and smartphone to smartwatch, Andy knows tech.

Topics

Phones

I found six Android phone bargains worth your attention during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days

Electronics, Screen, Computer Hardware

Finding a genuine smartphone bargain during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. To save you the hassle, I've sifted through the noise to select six standout deals on Android phones that deliver incredible value for every budget. From budget picks under $300 to cutting-edge foldables, these six picks deliver real savings of up to 33% off.

Google Pixel 11 Pro – $849 (23% off)

Phones

5 Amazon Prime Day charging accessory deals I’d grab before they sell out

From a wireless charging station to a high-capacity power bank, these five deals can make keeping your devices topped up a whole lot easier.

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

Charging accessories aren't the most exciting gadgets to shop for, but the right ones can make a surprisingly big difference to your setup. Whether you want one station to handle all your devices, a wireless charger for your desk or nightstand, a power bank that can keep your laptop running, or a single brick capable of charging five devices at once, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days has some worthwhile options. I've sifted through the barrage of off-brand junk to find five charging accessories that are worth your attention, with discounts that make them even more tempting.

Anker Nano 7-in-1 Charging Station – $59.98 (25% off)

Phones

A US state just approved an AI doctor. For now, it’ll only prescribe acne cures.

Aside from acne, Nolla's AI can also handle redness, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and under-eye bags.

Nolla Derm AI doctor app.

The first AI doctor is here. Despite all the skepticism and risks associated with AI models going haywire, the state of Utah just approved Nolla Health, a company that is providing an AI healthcare expert capable of writing prescriptions without any human in the chain. For now, it will only write acne prescriptions for Utah residents over 18 years of age, willing to pay a token monthly subscription fee that's lighter than your Spotify bill.

The big push here is that the Nolla Derm app will reduce the costs of medical consultation, save users the hassle of clinic visits, and take out the problem of waitlisting from the entire healthcare equation. “Unlike telehealth platforms that use AI only to collect information before handing patients off to clinicians, Nolla's AI system is designed to independently issue initial prescriptions within tightly defined, physician-approved treatment protocols,” writes the company.