What happens when you tap to pay
The two seconds between tapping your card and the terminal beeping — every hop of the data, narrated.
Your card / phone
Tap. In the next two seconds, your payment will cross at least four companies. It starts with a chip that signs each payment with a one-time code — and a phone wallet swaps in a stand-in for your real card number.
Payment terminal
The terminal receives a one-time encrypted token. Even if someone recorded it, it is useless for a second purchase.
Acquiring bank
The shop's own bank — the acquirer — takes the request and vouches for the merchant.
Card network
The card network is the traffic controller. The first digits of your card tell it exactly which bank to call.
Your bank (issuer)
Your bank makes the real decision: does the account exist, is there money, does this look like you?
Fraud check
A fraud model scores the transaction in milliseconds — the amount, the country, the time of day, your habits.
Account ledger
If everything checks out, the money is not moved yet — it is held. Settlement happens tonight in one big batch.
Watch it explain itself
Every step above is narrated aloud. Play it, or open it in the editor and make it yours — no account needed.