Feature request: Native Host Card Emulation (HCE) for direct contactless payments
What I’d love to see
Add native HCE support directly inside the Payy Android app so users can tap-to-pay with their Payy Visa card without adding it to Google Wallet.
Why this would be a massive added value for Payy
• Huge win for privacy-conscious users — especially the growing GrapheneOS community. GrapheneOS is one of the most secure and private Android OSes available, but it can never pass Google’s Play Integrity checks, so Google Wallet (and therefore any card routed through it) simply doesn’t work for NFC payments. Native HCE would instantly unlock tap-to-pay for thousands of high-value, privacy-first users who are currently locked out.
• True independence from Big Tech — Users wouldn’t depend on Google’s ecosystem at all. This perfectly aligns with Payy’s own privacy-first, ZK-powered mission.
• Better UX and higher adoption — One-tap setup in the Payy app instead of extra steps through Google Wallet. Simpler, faster, and more reliable for everyone (even on stock Android).
• Strong competitive edge — Very few privacy-focused or non-custodial wallets offer direct HCE. This would make Payy stand out as the go-to card/wallet for people who actually care about data sovereignty and security. It directly grows your user base among tech-savvy, security-conscious customers.
Technical side (kept simple)
Android has supported Host Card Emulation natively since version 4.4 via HostApduService / PaymentService APIs. Since Payy already issues real Visa cards and successfully provisions virtual cards into Google Wallet/Apple Pay, the backend tokenization and EMV flow are already in place. Extending that to direct HCE in the app is a straightforward next step that many EU banks and fintechs have already done successfully.
Suggested implementation
• Let users enable “Payy Tap” in the app settings.
• Register the Visa payment AID and handle APDU commands.
• Keep the same secure token provisioning you already use.
• Bonus: make it work out-of-the-box on GrapheneOS and other de-Googled devices.
_This feature would be a game-changer for usability while staying 100% true to Payy’s privacy and independence values. _
I (and many others in the GrapheneOS community) would happily test it and spread the word.
Happy to provide more details or help in any way!
Feature request: Native Host Card Emulation (HCE) for direct contactless payments
What I’d love to see
Add native HCE support directly inside the Payy Android app so users can tap-to-pay with their Payy Visa card without adding it to Google Wallet.
Why this would be a massive added value for Payy
• Huge win for privacy-conscious users — especially the growing GrapheneOS community. GrapheneOS is one of the most secure and private Android OSes available, but it can never pass Google’s Play Integrity checks, so Google Wallet (and therefore any card routed through it) simply doesn’t work for NFC payments. Native HCE would instantly unlock tap-to-pay for thousands of high-value, privacy-first users who are currently locked out.
• True independence from Big Tech — Users wouldn’t depend on Google’s ecosystem at all. This perfectly aligns with Payy’s own privacy-first, ZK-powered mission.
• Better UX and higher adoption — One-tap setup in the Payy app instead of extra steps through Google Wallet. Simpler, faster, and more reliable for everyone (even on stock Android).
• Strong competitive edge — Very few privacy-focused or non-custodial wallets offer direct HCE. This would make Payy stand out as the go-to card/wallet for people who actually care about data sovereignty and security. It directly grows your user base among tech-savvy, security-conscious customers.
Technical side (kept simple)
Android has supported Host Card Emulation natively since version 4.4 via HostApduService / PaymentService APIs. Since Payy already issues real Visa cards and successfully provisions virtual cards into Google Wallet/Apple Pay, the backend tokenization and EMV flow are already in place. Extending that to direct HCE in the app is a straightforward next step that many EU banks and fintechs have already done successfully.
Suggested implementation
• Let users enable “Payy Tap” in the app settings.
• Register the Visa payment AID and handle APDU commands.
• Keep the same secure token provisioning you already use.
• Bonus: make it work out-of-the-box on GrapheneOS and other de-Googled devices.
_This feature would be a game-changer for usability while staying 100% true to Payy’s privacy and independence values. _
I (and many others in the GrapheneOS community) would happily test it and spread the word.
Happy to provide more details or help in any way!